Long-Infrared Remote Sensing Based on Photonics Chaos Generated by Quantum Cascade Lasers

This work reports the first experimental realization of a chaos-based Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system operating in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) regime, utilizing photonic chaos generated by a quantum cascade laser. The system demonstrates a range resolution of the order of 1 m and sub-centimeter precision (within 2 % of the measured distance) for targets located up to 10 m away, without the need for complex modulation techniques. Owing to the inherent resilience of the LWIR band in adverse environmental conditions, these findings establish chaos LiDAR as a promising candidate for medium-and long-range sensing applications, offering a viable alternative to conventional LiDAR architectures.