Wave Optics Simulation of Optically Augmented Retroreflections for Mononstatic/Bistatic Detection
Abstract
Optical devices interrogated with a laser in the appropriate band can exhibit strong, deterministic reflections of the incident beam. This characteristic could be exploited for optical target detection and identification. The distribution of reflected power is strongly dependent on the geometry of the interrogation scenario, atmospheric conditions, and the cross section of the target optical device. Previous work on laser interrogation systems in this area has focused on analytic models or testing. To the best of my knowledge, I am presenting for the first time an approach to predict reflected power for a variety of interrogation configurations, targets, and propagation conditions using numeric simulation based on wave optics. Numeric simulation has a cost advantage over laboratory and field experiments and avoids the limiting complexity of analytic models. Moreover, results demonstrate that reflected power can be predicted within error with an appropriately characterized. Simulations were prepared in MATLAB and run for interrogation scenarios using a simple retroreflector (corner cube) and a surrogate complex optical system (lens-mirror) target. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted for simulation validation in the absence and presence of atmospheric turbulence with a focus on bistatic receiver configurations. Two interrogation wavelengths, 1064nm and 4636nm, were used. Targets used in this experiment were modeled in simulation by measuring or estimating their deviation from a perfectly flat reflector and applying the corresponding Zernike mode phase aberrations to the simulated pupil. Strengths and limitations of the simulation environment are addressed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA495727
Entities
People
- John J. Tatar Iii
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology