Target Analysis by Differential Reflectance Lidars

Abstract

The spectral reflectance, namely the fraction of the incident radiation flux reflected at a given wavelength, is an intrinsic characteristic of each natural or artificial surface. It seemed therefore interesting to investigate the potential of multiwavelength lidars in target identification by means of a spectral reflectance analysis; because of its wavelength agility the CO2 laser is a very attractive one for this kind of analysis. The aim of this paper is to present the results of spectral reflectance measurements of relevant target surface materials at the CO2 laser wavelengths in order to forecast the performances of a differential reflectance lidar.