Abstract

We have investigated the optimal detector size for a coherent Dopplar LIDAR which takes into account the telescope/receiver geometry, heterodyne detector array, and atmospheric turbulence. Our analysis (computer simulation) indicates that atmospheric turbulence severely limits the optimal size of a heterodyne detector and that significant improvements in the overall detection efficiency can be obtained by the use of a detector array. These numerical studies are important because they help to explain our recent experimental results using a 1.06μm Nd:YAG coherent Doppler LIDAR

© 1990 Optical Society of America