Single-Photon Counting Laser Ranging with Optical Frequency Combs

Xinyi Ren, Bo Xu, Qilai Fei, Yan Liang, Jinman Ge, Xiaoyue Wang, Kun Huang, Ming Yan, Heping Zeng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Time-of-flight single-photon counting laser ranging offers an important tool for remote sensing and imaging. However, limited by the temporal properties of a single-photon detection and counting system, it encounters a challenge for high-resolution and high-precision distance metrology. Here, we incorporated dual-comb based laser ranging, an enabling technique for rapid distance measurements with high precision and large range ambiguity, with time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) technology and demonstrated its feasibility for precise laser ranging under a photon-starved condition. Based on interferometric measurements of two asynchronous 2.8-pW, 25-GHz electro-optic laser combs with TCSPC, micrometer-level ranging precision was achieved for consistent distance measurements (a stand-off distance of 15.6 m) over several days. New opportunities might open up for high-resolution and high-precision single-photon counting laser ranging.

Original languageEnglish
Article number9281096
Pages (from-to)27-30
Number of pages4
JournalIEEE Photonics Technology Letters
Volume33
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2021

Keywords

  • Laser ranging
  • optical frequency comb
  • single-photon counting

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