Abstract

Techniques for sensing an object's size, shape, and surface roughness by observing the dependence of laser speckle on wavelength and object rotation are discussed. A monostatic configuration is considered where the object is located in the far zone and flood illuminated. We show that the Fourier transform of the optical frequency dependent speckle decorrelation function is proportional to the laser radar cross section resolved in range along the line of sight. Likewise, the Fourier transform of the spin-dependent decorrelation function is related to the cross section resolved radially about the axis of rotation. These quantities can be calculated given the shape of the object and the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of the surface material.

© 1989 Optical Society of America