Polarization based coded aperture laser detection and ranging

A Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR) method, comprising:

• switching continuous wave (CW) laser light between the two or more polarizations based on a code;
• transmitting the two or more polarizations of the CW laser light at a target;
• detecting the two or more polarizations of the CW laser light reflected from the target;
• and
• determining a range of the target based on a time of flight of the switched polarizations of the CW laser light from the transmitter to the receiver according to the code.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of a Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR) system, direct the processor to:

• switch continuous wave (CW) laser light from a laser between the two or more polarizations based on a code;
• transmit the two or more polarizations of the CW laser light from the laser at a target;
• detect the two or more polarizations of the CW laser light reflected from the target;
• and
• determine a range of the target based on a time of flight of the switched polarizations of the CW laser light from the transmitter to the receiver according to the code.