TIME-AVERAGED SPECKLE REDUCTION IN SCANNING ACTIVE IMAGING-SYSTEMS

For scanning active imaging systems using direct detection, it is poss ible to adequately model the expected speckle noise. Modifications are introduced to the theory on speckle originally proposed by Goodman to take into account the scanning effect. The model presented here is ve rified experimentally for a scanning active imaging system using a CO2 laser (10.6 mum). A direct relation between the reduction in the spec kle noise resulting from the scanning process and the imaging resoluti on is demonstrated.