Accession Number:
AD1033761
Title:
Multi-Aperture Digital Coherent Combining for Free-Space Optical Communication Receivers
Descriptive Note:
Technical Report
Corporate Author:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Lexington United States
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
2016-04-21
Pagination or Media Count:
11.0
Abstract:
Space-to-ground optical communication systems can benefit from reducing the size, weight, and power profiles of space terminals. One way of reducing the required power-aperture product on a space platform is to implement effective, but costly, single-aperture ground terminals with large collection areas. In contrast, we present a ground terminal receiver architecture in which many small less-expensive apertures are efficiently combined to create a large effective aperture while maintaining excellent receiver sensitivity. This is accomplished via coherent detection behind each aperture followed by digitization. The digitized signals are then combined in a digital signal processing chain. Experimental results demonstrate lossless coherent combining of four lasercom signals, at power levels below 0.1 photonsbitaperture.
Descriptors:
Subject Categories:
- Telemetry
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment