Signal-to-noise performance analysis of streak tube imaging lidar systems I Cascaded model

Abstract

Streak tube imaging lidar (STIL) is an active imaging system using a pulsed laser transmitter and a streak tube receiver to produce 3D range and intensity imagery. The STIL has recently attracted a great deal of interest and attention due to its advantages of wide azimuth field-of-view, high range and angle resolution, and high frame rate. This work investigates the signal-to-noise performance of STIL systems. A theoretical model for characterizing the signal-to-noise performance of the STIL system with an internal or external intensified streak tube receiver is presented, based on the linear cascaded systems theory of signal and noise propagation. The STIL system is decomposed into a series of cascaded imaging chains whose signal and noise transfer properties are described by the general (or the spatial-frequency dependent) noise factors (NFs). Expressions for the general NFs of the cascaded chains (or the main components) in the STIL system are derived. The work presented here is useful for the design and evaluation of STIL systems.

Signal-to-noise performance analysis of streak tube imaging lidar systems II Theoretical analysis and discussion

“…1. The details of the cascaded model for characterizing the signal-to-noise performance of the external intensified STIL system can be found in [15]. Here we review it briefly.…”

“…In designing and evaluating these STIL systems it is necessary to understand the signal-to-noise characteristics of the imaging systems. In the preceding paper, we presented a general signal-to-noise performance analysis of STIL system within the framework of linear cascaded systems (LCS) theory [15]. A cascaded model is proposed for characterizing the signal-to-noise performance of STIL system with internal or external intensified ST receiver.…”

Streak image denoising and segmentation using adaptive Gaussian guided filter

“…Recently, a multislit streak tube has been used in 3D imaging lidar [7,8], such as multispectral and hyperspectral imaging lidar [9], flash imaging lidar [10,11], and polarization imaging lidar [12,13]. Yang et al presented a general signal-to-noise performance analysis of a linear cascaded STIL system [14], and equations for the general noise factors of the cascaded chains are derived in [15]. A new type of 3D imaging lidar system based on a picosecond streak tube camera has been established in our laboratory [16].…”

“…Comparison of difference in PSNR and MSSIM values among the BF, the DTF, the GF, the AGF, and the AGGF for two streak images with additive Gaussian noise (σ 2, 4, 6,8,12,14). The red line with circles shows that the performance is improved using our AGGF.…”

Experiments of ocean surface waves and underwater target detection imaging using a slit Streak Tube Imaging Lidar

“…The receiver is a streak tub camera which is an instantaneous optical device. The reflected light from the ocean surface or the underwater target is collected onto a slit in front of the streak tube photocathode by a conventional lens, and the time (range) is resolved by an electrostatic sweep within the streak tube, thus generating a 2-D range-azimuth image on each laser pulse [5,6], as shown in Fig. 2.…”