Long-range 3D single-photon imaging lidar system

Abstract

We describe a re-configurable scanning lidar system which can accommodate either a single element detector operating in a scanning mode or a 32 x 32 array detector operating in a non-scanning mode. The system uses a time-of-flight approach in conjunction with the single-photon counting technique to produce 3D images of non-cooperative targets at ranges of greater than one kilometre. Results of data acquired with a single-element detector in a scanning mode at 2.9 km and 4.6 km are reported. The field of view (FoV) was illuminated through a transmitter in a bi-static mode using 125 kHz repetition rate laser pulses at a wavelength of 1550 nm with an average optical power of 0.5W.