Simulation research of ocean lidar system based on the single photon detection array

The detection of ocean profile optical parameters is of great significance to ocean science. The existing ocean passive remote sensing systems mainly focus on the detection of surface parameters. If we want to obtain the ocean profile parameters in a big area, active remote sensing technology is necessary to adopted. The difficulty of ocean active remote sensing detection system lies in the strong reflection of the sea surface, and rapid attenuation of the laser energy under the surface. Therefore, the dynamic range of the signal can reach nearly five orders of magnitude. It’s a great challenge for the performance of the detection system that undertakes the role of photo-electric conversion. Only by fully simulating the performance of the detection system can we obtain the corresponding relationship between the returned optical signal and the output electrical signal, and ensure the reliability of the subsequent signal processing. In this paper, Hamamatsu multipixel Photon Counter is selected as the detector, and the return photo profile data is provided by Ocean University of China. The photoelectric conversion process is simulated both in digital and analog mode. Meanwhile, the influences of background light, after pulse, accumulation times, laser wavelength and detection area are also simulated and analyzed. The simulation results are in good agreement with the trend of the theoretical curve. The simulation system provides a basis for accurately evaluating the photoelectric conversion process of Ocean Lidar, and guarantees the authenticity of the subsequent signal processing system.