Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, Volume. 62, Issue 9, 0928002(2025)

Joint Spatial and Temporal Enhancement Technique for Weak Signal Detection in Coherent LiDAR Systems

Honghui Jia1,2,3, Zhiyong Lu1,2、*, Jianfeng Sun4,5, Chaoyang Li1,2, Lingling Xu1,2,3, Yuxin Jiang1,2,3, Haoming Yuan1,2, and Wanling Su1,2,3
Author Affiliations
  • 1Wangzhijiang Innovation Center for Laser, Aerospace Laser Technology and System Department, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Space Laser Communication and Detection Technology, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
  • 3Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • 4Shanghai Satellite Network Research Institute Company Limited, Shanghai 200120, China
  • 5Shanghai Key Laboratory of Satellite Network, Shanghai 200120, China
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    Coherent LiDAR systems face challenges in long-distance target detection due to weak echo signal energy and interference from external factors such as atmospheric turbulence, resulting in low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and reduced detection performance. To address these issues, we propose a joint temporal and spatial enhancement technique based on a coherent radar system with multiaperture reception to optimize the extraction of weak signals. The proposed technique improves the SNR and detection performance by extending the accumulation period in the temporal dimension and increasing the number of receiving apertures in the spatial dimension. The theoretical simulations and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Specifically, temporal and spatial accumulation methods yield SNR gains that are consistent with the theoretical predictions. For varying accumulation times of single-aperture echo signals and equivalent accumulation times of multiaperture echo signals, the expected improvements are achieved. By combining spatial and temporal accumulation, weak echo signals with power as low as 0.56 fW are detected under conditions involving 36-aperture spatial accumulation and 20-ms temporal accumulation, achieving an SNR of 24.3 dB. The proposed technique significantly enhances the capability of coherent LiDAR systems to detect weak signals and thus holds important practical application value.

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    Honghui Jia, Zhiyong Lu, Jianfeng Sun, Chaoyang Li, Lingling Xu, Yuxin Jiang, Haoming Yuan, Wanling Su. Joint Spatial and Temporal Enhancement Technique for Weak Signal Detection in Coherent LiDAR Systems[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2025, 62(9): 0928002

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    Paper Information

    Category: Remote Sensing and Sensors

    Received: Aug. 20, 2024

    Accepted: Oct. 29, 2024

    Published Online: Apr. 23, 2025

    The Author Email: Zhiyong Lu (luzhiyong15@126.com)

    DOI:10.3788/LOP241880

    CSTR:32186.14.LOP241880

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