Eye-safe lidar receiver using Er3+: fiber optical preamplifier

Hsian Pei Chou; Richard S. Eng; F. Cook; Victor H. Hasson

doi:10.1117/12.263501

10 January 1997 Eye-safe lidar receiver using Er³⁺: fiber optical preamplifier

Hsian Pei Chou, Richard S. Eng, F. Cook, Victor H. Hasson

Proceedings Volume 3000, Laser Diode and LED Applications III; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.263501
Event: Photonics West '97, 1997, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

We have demonstrated a 15 dB lidar receiver detection sensitivity improvement by employing an Er³⁺-doped fiber preamplifier as the input to an InGaAs P-I-N photodiode. This eye-safe, 1550 nm detection system can significantly improve lidar system performance. It is shown that it is comparatively easier at 1550 nm than at 1064 nm to achieve a higher detection sensitivity for a lidar system using a fiber preamplifier in comparison with that using an avalanche photodiode (APD). The reason is that the Er:fiber preamplifier performs better than a Nd:fiber preamplifier, while the InGaAs APD is less sensitive in comparison with a Si APD. In a lidar receiver using a fiber preamplifier, the beam coupling efficiency from free-space mode to a single- mode fiber is the critical parameter. For moderate target velocities, an automatic front-end alignment system using piezoelectric transducers can be effected to yield a good coupling efficiency. The design and preliminary test results of such a lidar receiver are discussed in terms of optimized optical filter bandwidth, optical preamplifier gain and noise figure, and input saturation level.

Citation Download Citation

Hsian Pei Chou, Richard S. Eng, F. Cook, and Victor H. Hasson "Eye-safe lidar receiver using Er³⁺: fiber optical preamplifier", Proc. SPIE 3000, Laser Diode and LED Applications III, (10 January 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.263501

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