Abstract
Techniques are developed to analyze the mean-squared phase error (MSPE) on modulated laser signals subject to ideal Rayleigh fading. The mean-squared error in the return signals of laser radars based on sinusoidal intensity modulation is analyzed. Maximum-likelihood phase detection is assumed. Exact formulas are derived for the MSPE incurred in working with deterministic signals as well as signals subject to ideal Rayleigh fading. The benefits of filtering phase data on the basis of amplitude thresholding are quantified. The formulas developed are valid in the case of low as well as high signal-to-noise ratios.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: