The optimal single-pixel processor for speckle-target detection using laser-radar intensity measure-ments has long been known, along with its performance-its receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Most laser radar target-detection problems, however, involve multidimensional measurements-e.g., range and intensity measurements-of multipixel speckle objects. Recently, Mark applied statistical decision theory to the multipixel, multidimensional problem; he derived quasi-optimal intensity-only and range-only target detection processors, and obtained quantitative results for their ROCs. This paper extends Mark's work by presenting a quasi-optimal joint-range intensity processor which can be easily implemented in existing peak-detection systems, and developing-through computer simulation-its ROC behavior. The simulation routine is based on the previously-verified pixel statistics of 2-D pulsed-imager operation, and it reproduces Mark's theoretical intensity-only and range-only ROC predictions. The simulation shows that joint range-intensity processing offers significant performance benefits over intensity-only and range-only systems.
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