Hybrid lidar-radar ocean experiment

Summary form only given. Lidar (light detection and ranging) is used for underwater surveillance. A pulse of blue-green optical radiation is transmitted from an airborne platform, and target information is extracted from the detected echo. A novel detection scheme has been conceived by combining microwave radar and lidar. In the hybrid configuration, the radar signal is impressed on the optical carrier by modulating the carrier at microwave frequencies. The reflected optical signal, with the superimposed microwave envelope, is detected by a high-speed photodetector.