Synthetic aperture radar using ultra-wideband microwave-modulated laser

Ultra-wideband microwave-modulated laser radar is designed and fabricated for the improvement of spatial resolution both in the range and in the azimuth directions. The frequency modulation (1–18 GHz chirp) is applied to an infrared laser source in 1550 nm wavelength. A prototype of laser radar system with a beam expander has been constructed and applied to the measurement of the distance (position) of an object. In the experiment, it has been proved that the spatial resolution in the range direction is less than ±2 cm.