Measurement of distance by optical feedback of a picosecond diode laser

A. Aljalal

doi:10.1117/12.3073355

Measurement of distance by optical feedback of a picosecond diode laser

A. Aljalal^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Physics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

A new method is presented for measuring short distances of a few meters using the pulsed time-of-flight technique with high resolution without the need for fast detectors or autocorrelators. The method relies on the increase in the average power of a picosecond diode laser due to optical feedback, which occurs over a very narrow laser pulse frequency range when the laser is operated just below the laser threshold. This work demonstrated the ability to measure distances between 2 and 5 m with a resolution of less than 100 μm using a simple silicon detector.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	SPIE Future Sensing Technologies 2025
Editors	Osamu Matoba, Joseph A. Shaw, Christopher R. Valenta
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510693722
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3073355
State	Published - 15 Dec 2025
Event	SPIE Future Sensing Technologies 2025 - Yokohama, Japan Duration: 11 Nov 2025 → 14 Nov 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	13710
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	SPIE Future Sensing Technologies 2025
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Yokohama
Period	11/11/25 → 14/11/25

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 SPIE. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Distance measurement
optical feedback
picosecond diode laser

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Instrumentation
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.3073355

Cite this

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title = "Measurement of distance by optical feedback of a picosecond diode laser",

abstract = "A new method is presented for measuring short distances of a few meters using the pulsed time-of-flight technique with high resolution without the need for fast detectors or autocorrelators. The method relies on the increase in the average power of a picosecond diode laser due to optical feedback, which occurs over a very narrow laser pulse frequency range when the laser is operated just below the laser threshold. This work demonstrated the ability to measure distances between 2 and 5 m with a resolution of less than 100 μm using a simple silicon detector.",

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series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

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Aljalal, A 2025, Measurement of distance by optical feedback of a picosecond diode laser. in O Matoba, JA Shaw & CR Valenta (eds), SPIE Future Sensing Technologies 2025., 137101C, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 13710, SPIE, SPIE Future Sensing Technologies 2025, Yokohama, Japan, 11/11/25. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3073355

Measurement of distance by optical feedback of a picosecond diode laser. / Aljalal, A.
SPIE Future Sensing Technologies 2025. ed. / Osamu Matoba; Joseph A. Shaw; Christopher R. Valenta. SPIE, 2025. 137101C (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13710).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

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PY - 2025/12/15

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N2 - A new method is presented for measuring short distances of a few meters using the pulsed time-of-flight technique with high resolution without the need for fast detectors or autocorrelators. The method relies on the increase in the average power of a picosecond diode laser due to optical feedback, which occurs over a very narrow laser pulse frequency range when the laser is operated just below the laser threshold. This work demonstrated the ability to measure distances between 2 and 5 m with a resolution of less than 100 μm using a simple silicon detector.

AB - A new method is presented for measuring short distances of a few meters using the pulsed time-of-flight technique with high resolution without the need for fast detectors or autocorrelators. The method relies on the increase in the average power of a picosecond diode laser due to optical feedback, which occurs over a very narrow laser pulse frequency range when the laser is operated just below the laser threshold. This work demonstrated the ability to measure distances between 2 and 5 m with a resolution of less than 100 μm using a simple silicon detector.

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T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

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A2 - Shaw, Joseph A.

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Y2 - 11 November 2025 through 14 November 2025

ER -

Measurement of distance by optical feedback of a picosecond diode laser

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this