Coherent light detection system and method

A method for detecting coherent light comprising:

• receiving a coherent light through a spatial interferometer, the coherent light interfering with itself to create a light fringe;
• receiving an incoherent light through the spatial interferometer;
• detecting the coherent light and the incoherent light on a photo detector adjacent to the spatial interferometer, the light fringe projecting onto the photo detector, the photo detector having an array of pixels operable to detect coherent light, the array of pixels providing a plurality of outputs corresponding to coherent light received by discrete pixels of the array of pixels;
• using a processor, determining an interference pattern of the light fringe based on the plurality of outputs of the array of pixels;
• and
• using the processor, determining one or more wavelengths of the coherent light from the interference pattern, wherein the spatial interferometer, the photo detector, and the processor are positioned on a space-based platform.

A coherent light detection system comprising:

• a spatial interferometer, wherein the spatial interferometer has a plurality of openings positioned such that a coherent light passing through the plurality of openings interferes with itself to create a light fringe;
• a photo detector positioned to receive the coherent light passing through the spatial interferometer, the photo detector having an array of pixels operable to detect coherent light, wherein the array of pixels includes a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of diagonals;
• and
• a processor operable to integrate the array of pixels and determine an interference pattern of the coherent light received through the spatial interferometer and determining one or more wavelengths of the coherent light from the interference pattern, and the processor is operable to determine a directionality of the coherent light by:
• determining a position of the light fringe on the plurality of rows and the plurality of columns;
• and
• calculating an angle (α, β) of the position of the light fringe relative to the plurality of openings of the spatial interferometer.