Range-resolved pulsed and CWFM lidars: potential capabilities comparison

An analytical comparison of key capabilities for both continuous wave frequency modulated (CWFM) lidar and incoherent pulsed lidar is presented. Principles of CWFM-lidar architectures are described and the CWFM-lidar equation is derived. The dimensionless parameterization methodology is applied to both broad- and narrow-band lidars to perform their detailed estimates and a comparison of the operation range and sensitivity.