FREE SPACE LASER COMMUNICATION

Presented by

CONTENTS
Background Introduction System characteristics Features of LASER communication Working Acquisition and Tracking Merits and demerits Conclusion

Background
Until recently the united states government was funding the development of an operation space laser cross-link system employing solid-state laser technology. The NASA is developing technology and studying the applicability of space laser communication to NASAs tracking and data relay network both as cross-link and for user relay link.
Presently,ongoing hardware development efforts include ESAs space satellite link experiment(LCE)

INTRODUCTION
LASERs have been used for space communications since their realization Advances in system architecture, data formatting and component technology over past few years results in the usage of laser communication in intersatellite link applications This technology offers usage of lightweight payloads in satellites

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
Link parameters Transmitter parameters

Channel parameters
Receiver parameters Detector parameters

FEATURES OF LASER COMMUNICATION

High bandwidth
High data rate Usage of small size antenna Narrow beam divergence

LAY OUT

WORKING
Schematic diagram

Flow chart
Acquisition and tracking

Schematic diagram

FLOW CHART

ACQUISITION AND TRACKING

Acquisition is the most difficult because laser beams are typically much smaller than the area of uncertainty. Satellites do not know exactly where they are or where the other platform is located, and since everything moves with some degree of uncertainty, they cannot take very long to search Instability of the platforms also causes uncertainty in time. In the ideal acquisition method, the beam width of the source is greater than the angle of uncertainty in the location of receiver. The receiver field of includes the location uncertainty of the transmitter.

MERITS
They are not subject to government licensing since it operate within the near infrared spectrum. It eliminates the need for securing right of ways and buried cable installations. The systems are quickly deployable since no radio interference. Ability to use smaller optics.

DEMERITS
It provide only interconnection between points that have direct line-of-sight(los). For each glass surface the light intensity is reduced, thus reducing the operational distance of a system. Occasionally short interruptions or unavailability events lasting from some hours up to a few days can occur.

HISTORY OF SPACE LASER

CONCLUSION
The implementation of the system in an intersatellite link will require a substantial development effort. The growing requirements for the efficient and secure communications has led to an increased interest in the operation deployment of laser cross-links for commercial and military satellite system in both low earth and geo-synchronous orbits.

REFERENCE

M. Jeganathan, Development of the free-space optical communications analysis software, Free-Space Laser Communications Technologies X, Proceedings of SPIE, [Ed. G. Stephen Mecherle], Volume 3266, 90-98, 2005. C. C. Chen and C. S. Gardner, Impact of random pointing and tracking errors on the design of coherent and incoherent optical intersatellite communication links, IEEE Trans. Commun.37 (3), 252260 (2004). S. G. Lambert and W. L. Casey, Laser Communication in Space (Artech House, Boston, 2002). Henderson A. R., Bioptica: A Guide to Laser Safety ISBN 0-412-72940-7, UK February 2005

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