Signal-to-noise in a backscatter-modulated Doppler velocimeter.

When a portion of the light backscattered from a moving diffuse target is allowed to reenter the source laser, at the Doppler frequency is observed. This paper analyzes the SNR expected modulation of the laser power laser Doppler velocity measurements. A peak in the signal-to-noise when this phenomenon is used to make is predicted for the laser operated at its threshold gain.