Performance and limitations of dual-comb based ranging systems
arXiv:2202.05644 · doi:10.1364/OE.446146
Abstract
Dual-comb LiDARs have the potential to perform high-resolution ranging at high speed. Here, through an implementation involving electro-optic modulators and heterodyne detection, we quantify the ranging systems trade-off between precision and non-ambiguity range (NAR) using a unique performance factor. We highlight the influence of the comb amplitude envelope on the precision with a distance measurement limited by the repetition rate of the optical comb. The influence of the combs repetition rate on the NAR and on the precision is illustrated through a setup allowing distance measurement with a tunable NAR. Finally, we demonstrate the impossibility to resolve different targets, quantify the impact on the measured distance and develop on the conditions in which non-linear effects of the interference make the measurement impossible.
The authors acknowledge financial support by the Qombs Project (FET Flagship on Quantum Technologies grant No 820419) Quantum simulation and entanglement engineering in quantum cascade laser frequency combs