Subcentimeter depth resolution using a single-photon counting time-of-flight laser ranging system at 1550 nm wavelength.
We demonstrate subcentimeter depth profiling at a stand off distance of 330 m using a time-of-flight approach based on time-correlated single-photon counting. For the first time to our knowledge, the photon-counting time-of-flight technique was demonstrated at a wavelength of 1550 nm using a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. The performance achieved suggests that a system using superconducting detectors has the potential for low-light-level and eye-safe operation. The system's instrumental response was 70 ps full width at half-maximum, which meant that 1 cm surface-to-surface resolution could be achieved by locating the centroids of each return signal. A depth resolution of 4 mm was achieved by employing an optimized signal-processing algorithm based on a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo method.
Warburton
Ryan E
RE
School of Engineering of Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.
McCarthy
Aongus
A
Wallace
Andrew M
AM
Hernandez-Marin
Sergio
S
Hadfield
Robert H
RH
Nam
Sae Woo
SW
Buller
Gerald S
GS