Distortion of Wideband Carbon Dioxide Laser Radar Waveforms due to Atmospheric Dispersion and Absorption

Abstract

Atmospheric dispersion is shown to have a significant effect on wideband coherent laser radars operating on a transition of ordinary carbon dioxide (CO2). Calculations are performed for a hypothetical ground-based laser radar that is observing targets in low Earth orbit. Linear frequency modulated (LFM) waveforms of bandwidths 200 MHz, 500 MHz, 1 GHz, and 2 GHz are used. The use of a laser radar operating with a different carbon isotope (13C16O2) is suggested to avoid the dispersion problem, and also to reduce atmospheric absorption. Keywords: Laser radar, Ladar, Atmospheric dispersion.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 12, 1987
Accession Number
ADA188687

Entities

People

  • Alan L. Kachelmyer
  • Robert E. Knowlden
  • William E. Keicher

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Altitude
  • Atmospheric Attenuation
  • Bandwidth
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Dispersions
  • Doppler Effect
  • Earth Orbits
  • Frequency
  • Isotopes
  • Laser Radar
  • Lasers
  • Matched Filters
  • Orbits
  • Sea Level
  • Transfer Functions
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Space Objects