DocumentCode
951905
Title
Space optical communications with the Nd: YAG laser
Author
Ross, Monte ; Freedman, Paul ; Abernathy, James ; Matassov, George ; Wolf, John ; Barry, James D.
Author_Institution
McDonnel-Douglas Astronautics Company East, St. Louis, MO
Volume
66
Issue
3
fYear
1978
fDate
3/1/1978 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage
319
Lastpage
344
Abstract
The development of a Nd : YAG space laser communication system is discussed with respect to history, potential applications, and present status. The basic design of an Air Force Space Communications Flight Test operable at a data rate of 1000 Mbit/s is described at both the system and component level. An engineering feasibility model of this system has been completed, and the results of tests data are reported. Communications at 1000 Mbit/s with a receiver sensitivity of 20 photoelectrons/bit was demonstrated for a bit error rate of 10-6, interterminal tracking with angle erros less than 1 µrad, and station to station acquisition in less than 6 s. A simulated range of 40 000 km was used.
Keywords
Aerospace control; Artificial satellites; Downlink; Laser modes; Laser noise; Military aircraft; Neodymium; Optical fiber communication; Relays; System testing;
fLanguage
English
Journal_Title
Proceedings of the IEEE
Publisher
ieee
ISSN
0018-9219
Type
jour
DOI
10.1109/PROC.1978.10903
Filename
1455172
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