• Chinese Optics Letters
  • Vol. 14, Issue 7, 071201 (2016)
Li Xue1、*, Ming Li1, Labao Zhang2、**, Dongsheng Zhai3, Zhulian Li3, Lin Kang2, Yuqiang Li3, Honglin Fu3, Ming Ming4, Sen Zhang2, Xu Tao2, Yaoheng Xiong3, and Peiheng Wu2
Author Affiliations
  • 1Key Laboratory for Space Object Measurements, Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications Technology, Beijing 100094, China
  • 2Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
  • 3Yunnan Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650011, China
  • 4Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
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    DOI: 10.3788/COL201614.071201 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Li Xue, Ming Li, Labao Zhang, Dongsheng Zhai, Zhulian Li, Lin Kang, Yuqiang Li, Honglin Fu, Ming Ming, Sen Zhang, Xu Tao, Yaoheng Xiong, Peiheng Wu. Long-range laser ranging using superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors[J]. Chinese Optics Letters, 2016, 14(7): 071201 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    We demonstrate laser-ranging results for non-cooperative targets at ranges of 237 m and 19 km using superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SSPD). We upgrade the kilohertz rate laser-ranging system with a newly developed SSPD module, and the equivalent detection diameter is enlarged to 50 μm with a fiber and micro-lenses. Both retroreflectors and non-cooperative surfaces of aluminum foil, a solar panel, and a concrete panel at distances of 237 m and 19 km, whose echoes are of single-photon level, are ranged with sub-centimeter precision. Experimental signal-to-noise ratio curves with the product of quantum efficiency and system transmittance are obtained, which indicates that our system, with an average laser power of 0.8 W and a receiving aperture of 1.2 m, may be capable for space debris ranging at a distance of 800 km. This work suggests that SSPDs have the potential to be used for space debris surveillance.
    σ=σjit2+σpul2+σtur2+σgeo2,(1)

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    SNR=nechonecho+nnoise,(2)

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    necho=Np·n0n0·ξ+ndv·[1P0(n0·ξ+ndv)],(3)

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    nnoise=NpNbin·vnoin0tbroad+vnoi·[1P0(n0·ξ+ndv)]+NpNbin·(tgatetdead1)·[1P0(ndv)],(4)

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    n0=γ·n0,vnoi=γ·vnoi,ndv=γ·ndv.(5)

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    n0=λhc·Et·T2·Kt·Kr·D2ρS8πR2(D2+Rθt2)2,(6)

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    Li Xue, Ming Li, Labao Zhang, Dongsheng Zhai, Zhulian Li, Lin Kang, Yuqiang Li, Honglin Fu, Ming Ming, Sen Zhang, Xu Tao, Yaoheng Xiong, Peiheng Wu. Long-range laser ranging using superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors[J]. Chinese Optics Letters, 2016, 14(7): 071201
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