LADAR performance simulations with a high spectral resolution atmospheric transmittance and radiance model: LEEDR

Benjamin D. Roth; Steven T. Fiorino

doi:10.1117/12.918330

14 May 2012 LADAR performance simulations with a high spectral resolution atmospheric transmittance and radiance model: LEEDR

Benjamin D. Roth, Steven T. Fiorino

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8379, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XVII; 83790O (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.918330
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

In this study of atmospheric effects on Geiger Mode laser ranging and detection (LADAR), the parameter space is explored primarily using the Air Force Institute of Technology Center for Directed Energy's (AFIT/CDE) Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference (LEEDR) code. The expected performance of LADAR systems is assessed at operationally representative wavelengths of 1.064, 1.56 and 2.039 μm at a number of locations worldwide. Signal attenuation and background noise are characterized using LEEDR. These results are compared to standard atmosphere and Fast Atmospheric Signature Code (FASCODE) assessments. Scenarios evaluated are based on air-toground engagements including both down looking oblique and vertical geometries in which anticipated clear air aerosols are expected to occur. Engagement geometry variations are considered to determine optimum employment techniques to exploit or defeat the environmental conditions. Results, presented primarily in the form of worldwide plots of notional signal to noise ratios, show a significant climate dependence, but large variances between climatological and standard atmosphere assessments. An overall average absolute mean difference ratio of 1.03 is found when climatological signal-to-noise ratios at 40 locations are compared to their equivalent standard atmosphere assessment. Atmospheric transmission is shown to not always correlate with signal-to-noise ratios between different atmosphere profiles. Allowing aerosols to swell with relative humidity proves to be significant especially for up looking geometries reducing the signal-to-noise ratio several orders of magnitude. Turbulence blurring effects that impact tracking and imaging show that the LADAR system has little capability at a 50km range yet the turbulence has little impact at a 3km range.

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Benjamin D. Roth and Steven T. Fiorino "LADAR performance simulations with a high spectral resolution atmospheric transmittance and radiance model: LEEDR", Proc. SPIE 8379, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XVII, 83790O (14 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.918330

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