Comb-calibrated laser ranging for three-dimensional surface profiling with micrometer-level precision at a distance.
Non-contact surface mapping at a distance is interesting in diverse applications including industrial metrology, manufacturing, forensics, and artifact documentation and preservation. Frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) laser detection and ranging (LADAR) is a promising approach since it offers shot-noise limited precision/accuracy, high resolution and high sensitivity. We demonstrate a scanning imaging system based on a frequency-comb calibrated FMCW LADAR and real-time digital signal processing. This system can obtain three-dimensional images of a diffusely scattering surface at stand-off distances up to 10.5 m with sub-micrometer accuracy and with a precision below 10 µm, limited by fundamental speckle noise. Because of its shot-noise limited sensitivity, this comb-calibrated FMCW LADAR has a large dynamic range, which enables precise mapping of scenes with vastly differing reflectivities such as metal, dirt or vegetation. The current system is implemented with fiber-optic components, but the basic system architecture is compatible with future optically integrated, on-chip systems.
E
E
Baumann
F R
FR
Giorgetta
J-D
JD
Deschênes
W C
WC
Swann
I
I
Coddington
N R
NR
Newbury
D029421:Cactaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002138:Calibration; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007834:Lasers; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D035501:Uncertainty