High Bandwidth Solid State Focal Plane Array Readout for Laser Radar System

High-resolution LADAR imaging provides three-dimensional images that have distinct advantages in comparison to conventional two-dimensional imaging. Advantages provided by the range information are the ability to remove clutter, to discriminate decoys from targets, and to provide an additional dimension for detection and classification. High-resolution imaging (voxel sizes ~ 0.75 x 0.75 mrad x 7.5 cm) require high bandwidth (2GHz) lidar receivers with small instantaneous fields of view and many pixels in along track and cross track dimensions. Many LADAR applications require precise high-speed sampling of the return pulse over tens to hundreds of nanoseconds followed by an inactive period of as much as 100 microseconds. Arete Associates, in conjunction with its partner MYTeK, proposes research on a High Speed Electro-Optic Sensor System (HESS). The readout architecture can be used both for direct and coherent detection applications. HESS is inherently a low power, lightweight, solid-state system that can be packaged in a small volume, making it particularly relevant to military applications. The program objective is development of a compact imaging-LADAR focal-plane-array readout, capable meeting the stated spatial and temporal sampling requirements. Phase I addresses the resolution of key technical hurdles and provides a foundation for a feasibility demonstration in Phase II.