High-energy sub-nanosecond optical pulse generation with a semiconductor laser diode for pulsed TOF laser ranging utilizing the single photon detection approach

摘要

Bulk and quantum well laser diodes with a large equivalent spot size of d(a)/Gamma(a) approximate to 3 mu m and stripe width/cavity length of 30 mu m/3 mm were realized and tested. They achieved a pulse energy and pulse length of the order of similar to 1 nJ and similar to 100 ps, respectively, with a peak pulse current of 6-8 A and a current pulse width of 1 ns. The 2D characteristics of the optical output power versus wavelength and time were also analyzed with a monochromator/streak camera set-up. The far-field characteristics were studied with respect to the time-homogeneity and energy distribution. The feasibility of a laser diode with a large equivalent spot size in single photon detection based laser ranging was demonstrated to a non-cooperative target at a distance of a few tens of meters.