Detectable distance calculations for a visual navigation system using a scanning semiconductor laser with electronic pumping.

Results of detectable distance calculations for a visual navigation system based on a scanning semiconductor laser with electronic pumping (SSLEP) are presented. A semiconductor crystal in the laser is pumped with an electron beam, which is scanned across the crystal in the television-frame scan mode. The navigation system forms three orientation sectors with radiation wavelengths λ=0.52, 0.57, and 0.63 μm. Herein, calculations of energetic characteristics of output radiation are performed for the navigation system described above. The calculations were performed using the Range software package, which considers microphysical and optical characteristics of aerosol and observation path geometry for the case of coastal environment. Finally, comparison of results of the calculations with data obtained in marine and flight experiments is presented. It is demonstrated that minor discrepancies between calculated and measured values of detectable distance are observed in the coastal haze at lower values of meteorological visibility range S(m). As S(m) increases, the discrepancies become significant.