摘要: This research determines the minimum performance requirements of a ground-based infrared LADAR designed to detect deep-space satellites, and presents a candidate sensor design based on current technology. The research examines LAD... 展开 This research determines the minimum performance requirements of a ground-based infrared LADAR designed to detect deep-space satellites, and presents a candidate sensor design based on current technology. The research examines LADAR techniques and detection methods to determine the optimum LADAR configuration, and then assesses the effects of atmospheric transmission, background radiance, and turbulence across the infrared region to find the optimum laser wavelengths. Diffraction theory is then used in a parametric analysis of the transmitted laser beam and received signal, using a Cassegrainian telescope design and heterodyne detection. The effects of beam truncation and obscuration, heterodyne misalignment, off-boresight detection, and image-pixel geometry are also included in the analysis. The derived equations are then used to assess the feasibility of several candidate designs under a wide range of detection conditions including daylight operation through cirrus. The results show that successful detection is theoretically possible under most conditions by transmitting a high-power frequency-modulated pulse train from an isotopic 13CO2 laser radiating at 11.17 micrometers, and utilizing post-detection integration and pulse compression techniques. Keywords: Optical Radar, Laser Tracking, Satellite Detection, Infrared Detection, Theses. (AW) 收起