Signal distortion due to beam-pointing error in a chopper modulated laser system

Abstract

The detector output has been studied for a long-distance system with a chopped cw laser as transmitter source. It is shown experimentally that the pulse distortion of the detected signal is dependent on the beam-pointing error. Parameters reflecting the pulse distortion are defined. The beam deviation in 1-D is found to be strongly related to these parameters. The result is in agreement with a theoretical model based upon the Fresnel diffraction theory. Possible applications in beam-tracking systems, communications systems, and atmospheric studies are discussed.