ATP subsystem for optical communications on a cubesat

In this paper, we present the prototype of an ATPsystem intended to be used in an optical quantum communications link between a Cubesat and an optical earth station. The ATP system is designed in such way that alignment on the satellite with respect to the optical earth station will be carried out based on the concept of an artificial star with the help of an astronomical 14 inch Cassegrain telescope. We present characterization results of ATP performance under controlled conditions of optical turbulence in the laboratory and in short- and medium-distance terrestrial links.