Squint-looking differential synthetic aperture ladar: signal processing and experimental demonstration

Squint-looking differential synthetic aperture ladar (DSAL) is reported with detailed signal processing mathematics and high-resolution experimental demonstrations. Based on the DSAL principle and standard squint-looking synthetic aperture radar theory, the data processing procedures on squint-looking DSAL image formation are obtained. The experimental DSAL setup, operating in “step-stop” strip map mode, adopts a frequency chirped laser with a wavelength of 1550 nm as the illuminating source and a specially designed random phase generator to introduce large common mode random phase error (RPE) into the phase history data of both receiving sub-apertures. High-resolution DSAL images of a cooperative target at a distance of 1.85 m and squint-looking angle of $-{10}^\circ$−10∘ or $+{10}^\circ$+10∘ are demonstrated. The DSAL images, with or without large RPE, are all well focused by straightforwardly following the given data processing steps. The result illustrates that the DSAL technique is robust in removing common mode phase errors in squint-looking configuration.