Simultaneous Real-Time Ranging and Velocimetry via a Dual-Sideband Chirped Lidar

Abstract

A dual-sideband (DSB) chirped lidar for simultaneous real-time ranging and velocimetry is proposed and demonstrated, in which a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) is applied to generate the required optical DSB frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) signal. The inherent opposite frequency chirp and contrary wavelength offset to the optical carrier of the two generated sidebands make it possible to measure the distance and velocity by frequency mixing without complex post digital signal processing, meanwhile, make the measurement of velocity immune to the nonlinearity of the FMCW optical signals. An experiment is carried out, in which an 8-18 GHz saw-tooth FMCW signal is used to drive an MZM, generating a wideband optical DSB FMCW signal. The distance and the velocity are simultaneously derived from the real-time frequency spectra. Accurate velocimetry with a nonlinear FMCW signal is also investigated.