Abstract
Current satellite laser ranging (SLR) systems work at laser repetition rates of some 10 Hz up to about 10 kHz. However, using a laser repetition rate of 100 kHz offers several advantages. First, a laser with lower pulse energy can be used, while nevertheless the same amount of returns is received for a given target. Second, a poor single-shot precision (e.g. due to a long laser pulse) can be counteracted, as the statistical error decreases with the number of individual measurements. These two factors increase the number of options concerning the laser source and may also help to make the system inherently eye safe. Lastly, it may also help to gather data more quickly and thus increase the number of targets that can be tracked per system. A high repetition rate SLR system has been installed at the Uhlandshöhe observatory in Stuttgart, Germany. Using an effective repetition rate of 100 kHz and a pulse energy of 50 ,upmu hbox {J}, various typical SLR targets could be ranged successfully, including LAGEOS and global navigation system satellites at altitudes of around 20,000 km. A comparative orbit analysis, using data taken by other SLR stations at the same time, shows that a normal point scatter in the order of 1 cm is achieved despite the rather poor single-shot precision of about 60 cm. These results show an interesting potential especially for future low-cost SLR systems that may utilize this technique to achieve competitive performance with small, low-energy lasers.
Highlights
1.1 Development of the satellite laser ranging (SLR) networkTraditionally, SLR systems were operated with pulse energies on the order of 100 mJ at repetition rates of around 10 Hz
In 2004 NASA’s SLR2000 system and the Graz SLR station demonstrated that laser ranging at kHz repetition rates could offer improvements in normal point accuracy [1, 2]
The International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) network has split into two paradigms: low repetition rate, high pulse energy, multi-photon detecting systems, and high repetition rate systems which measure few or single photons per pulse
Summary
SLR systems were operated with pulse energies on the order of 100 mJ at repetition rates of around 10 Hz. The International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) network has split into two paradigms: low repetition rate, high pulse energy, multi-photon detecting systems, and high repetition rate systems which measure few or single photons per pulse. We show that there are compelling reasons for wanting to overcome these challenges and demonstrate a satellite laser ranging experiment at 100 kHz effective repetition rate
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