Laser ranging of a metal target within a burning gas flame

The feasibility of determining the location of a metal target within a gas flame with the aid of a laser rangefinder was theoretically analysed. The effect of the gas flame composition and the combustion regime on the optical parameters of the flame, on the possibility of extracting the signal from the target against the background of the signal reflected from the flame, and also on the accuracy of determination of the target location inside the flame is taken into account.