Systems and methods for deterministic relative velocity vectors

A method for determining a relative surface velocity vector, the method comprising:

• providing, by a narrow linewidth emitter, a coherent electromagnetic signal having a linewidth of less than 100 kHz;
• transmitting the emitter output as an optical transmitted signal via a boresight component, the boresight component being configured to transmit the optical transmitted signal and receive a reflected optical signal;
• receiving, by a receiver coupled to the boresight component, the reflected optical signal and producing an electrical output based on the reflected optical signal;
• combining the electrical output with an oscillated signal generated by an oscillator to produce a signal that is amplified according to a bandwidth of the oscillated signal;
• and
• determining, by a processor and based on the linewidth and the signal, a velocity vector, the velocity vector comprising a magnitude of velocity and a direction of travel along a line of sight of the boresight component.

A device for determination of a relative surface velocity vector, the device comprising:

• a coherent light source having a linewidth less than 100 kHz;
• a modulation generator coupled to the light source and configured to apply a modulation to produce a modulated optical signal;
• a boresight optical path configured to direct the modulated optical signal toward a surface and to collect a reflected optical signal;
• a detection module configured to generate an electrical output from the reflected optical signal;
• an oscillator configured to provide an oscillated reference signal;
• a demodulation circuit configured to mix the electrical output with the oscillated reference signal to obtain a demodulated signal and to amplify the demodulated signal according to a bandwidth of the oscillated reference signal;
• and
• a processing unit configured to compute, from the linewidth and the demodulated signal, a velocity vector including a speed magnitude and a direction of travel along a line of sight of the boresight optical path relative to the device.