Current state of high-accuracy laser ranging

V.P. Vasiliev
Scientific and Production Corporation "Precision Instrument-Making Systems", Aviamotornaya str. 53, Moscow, 111024, Russian Federation

While laser distance measurement (laser ranging) currently provides millimeter accuracy at megameter scales, still higher accuracy will be required in the near future. Factors limiting the accuracy are variations in the Earth atmosphere index of refraction and the structure of light-reflecting targets. This paper briefly outlines ways to overcome these limitations and reviews the progress in deploying Russia's satellite laser ranging network over the last decades. Some prospects for further progress in this field are also discussed.

Keywords: satellite laser ranging, retroreflectors, target error
PACS: 06.30.Bp, 42.62.−b, 91.10.Fc (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2017.04.038147
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2018/7/f/
Web of Science

000446676600005
ADS NASA

2018PhyU...61..707V
Citation: Vasiliev V P "Current state of high-accuracy laser ranging" Phys. Usp. 61 707–713 (2018)

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Received: 22nd, May 2018, accepted: 5th, April 2017

Оригинал: Васильев В П «Современное состояние высокоточной лазерной дальнометрии» УФН 188 790–797 (2018); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2017.04.038147

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