High precision space debris laser ranging with 4.2 W double-pulse picosecond laser at 1 kHz in 532nm

Abstract Space debris laser ranging with a 4.2 W double-pulse 532 nm picosecond laser at a pulse repetition frequency of 1 kHz was achieved at the Shanghai satellite laser ranging (SLR) station, which receiving telescope was 60 cm. Space debris’ radar cross sections were from 2 m2 to 12 m2, and ranging precision was up to centimeters. A compound regenerative amplifier was used to realize double pulses output with pulse space of 4.1 ns. Double pulses would have the same detection ability as the equal energy single pulse. A 500 μm diameter avalanche photo-diode detector with less than 10 kHz dark noise and a quantum efficiency of 40% at 532 nm was developed to improve the measurement capability. And also a spectral filter with high efficiency and narrow bandwidth were applied. Basing on the Shanghai SLR system, the laser ranging to space debris with picosecond laser at 1 kHz was successfully implemented for the first time among the global SLR stations. The results showed that the ranging precision root-mean-square can be achieved about 5 cm. It will be very useful to monitor and study the space debris.

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