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 This
sub-theme aims to address technology areas that support
various imaging systems utilising laser radiation. The
planned research is detailed here for the first phase
of the DTC (one to three years) and covers emerging
enabling technologies and enhancements to current systems
(e.g. Lidar).
The planned research will include
the development and characterisation of non-linear materials
for the generation of visible, near and mid-IR radiation.
Engineered devices will be identified, including narrow-linewidth
monochromatic sources for single species detection and
broad-bandwidth sources for signature profiling.
Speckle effects arising from the illumination
of rough surfaces, seriously decrease the capability
of laser ranging and imaging. Speckle reduction strategies
will be examined based on increasing the optical bandwidth
of the active illumination. This will lead to improved
target recognition and identification capabilities,
with the potential for active 3D imaging.
In order to better detect and identify
difficult targets, improvements in signal to noise and
signal fluctuation reductions are required. It is proposed
to achieve this by detecting the received speckle more
efficiently using a multi-mode local oscillator.
The problem of detecting and discriminating
targets from cluttered backgrounds and/or from decoys
will be addressed by examining active systems as an
adjunct to other passive systems. This is likely to
include multi-spectral processing techniques for signature
profiling; laser-induced fluorescence and speckle pattern
discrimination.
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