Patent — available for licensing
LIDAR System Noise Reduction
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
In order to overcome significant noise from solar background and backscatter this LIDAR system utilizes a laser light source that is azimuthally polarized or has Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM). A photon sieve is used to produce a ring pattern on the focal plane corresponding from the light of the return signal and causes stray light that is not polarized to produce a clustered region at the center of the ring pattern that is distinct from the laser return. The photon sieve can be used as the front end lens of a telescope or as an internal optical component after a traditional telescope. This technology can also be employed in encrypted communications and navigation.