Single photon detector for satellite Dual Comb Spectroscopy: a numerical study

By simulating the use of single photon detector for coherent laser detection we performed a feasibility study for earth-satellite Dual Comb Spectroscopy (DCS) through numerical simulation. We conceived a scheme to use a single optical frequency comb source to perform DCS experiments and then we extended this scheme for application of DCS on earth-satellite path using the Doppler induced frequency shift to simulate the second comb source. We simulated the acquisition using single photon detector and an event timer to assign the time of photon detection. Then we calculated the probability density function through time-interval between two successive photoelectrons to extract the DCS signal. Finally we tested the conceived scheme on real high repetition rate satellite laser ranging data obtaining promising results.