A Zemax Analysis of a LIDAR Optical System to Compare Target Spot Size to Laser Input Angles and Beam Diameter

Abstract

This report describes the performance of optics that are part of a light imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) system at the CCDC Army Research Laboratory. Part of the optics system consists of a tilt mirror that redirects a laser through lenses so the output location of the beam may be changed. The purpose of this analysis is to understand how the output angle changes with input angle, the dependence of the target spot size on the input angle, and how the laser beam diameter affects the target spot size. Using Zemax, a simulated laser was projected into the optical system at angles varying from 0 deg to 6 deg, and the output spot size varied from a 0.83-m circle at an input angle of 0 deg to a 13.2- x 3-m oval at an input angle of 6 deg using a 1-mm input beam. The output angles are a factor of five greater than the input angles.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2019
Accession Number
AD1082405

Entities

People

  • Barry Stann
  • Bradley Deroos
  • Karl Jr K. Klett

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Classification
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Detection
  • Diameters
  • Geometry
  • Governments
  • Information Operations
  • Laser Spots
  • Mathematics
  • Military Research
  • Physical Properties
  • Sizes (Dimensions)

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
  • Optical Fiber Sensing and Electromagnetic Propagation.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy