Theoretical model considering optimal ranging performance and energy efficiency for photon-counting lidars with...

Area of Science:

• Remote Sensing
• Optical Engineering
• Photonics

Background:

• Space-borne photon-counting lidars face limitations in measurement frequency due to high orbital speeds.
• Ranging uncertainty, exacerbated by nanosecond pulse widths, significantly impacts overall ranging error.
• Photon-counting detectors exhibit dead-time effects, introducing ranging bias at higher signal levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a theoretical model for predicting photon-counting lidar ranging performance.
• To determine optimal signal levels and detector configurations for enhanced ranging accuracy.
• To provide guidance for designing and optimizing space-borne lidar systems.

Main Methods:

• Development of a theoretical ranging performance model for photon-counting lidar.
• Experimental validation using a four-photomultiplier tube photon-counting lidar system.
• Systematic testing across nine different signal levels to compare theoretical predictions with empirical data.

Main Results:

• Experimental results closely align with the proposed theoretical ranging performance model.
• An average residual error of 0.31 cm and error ratios below 10% were achieved.
• Employing multiple detectors minimizes total ranging error by balancing bias and uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• The theoretical model accurately predicts ranging performance and aids in system design optimization.
• An expected signal photon number of 0.5–1 per detector is recommended for space-borne lidar.
• A 4x4 detector array can achieve a total ranging error of approximately 5 cm under optimal conditions.