• Theme: High-speed pulse-code modulation terminals and multiplexing architectures enabling multi-gigabit optical links; early works describe optical multiplexing/demultiplexing methods, 224-Mbit/s to 1-Gb/s PCM terminals, and gating techniques in LiTaO3-based modulators [1], [7], [4], [6].

• Electro-optic modulators and materials for high-speed optics, detailing Pockels/Kerr-based modulators, LiTaO3 and KTN devices, performance bounds, and drive-power/bandwidth tradeoffs shaping practical optical links [2], [5], [13], [20], [17], [10].

• Optical heterodyne detection and receivers under atmospheric and enclosed-path conditions, spanning theory, experiments, and receiver design for coherent detection along challenging paths [12], [8], [11], [9], [15], [16].

• Propagation-channel and waveguide/media effects on optical links, comparing turbulence/atmospheric distortions, enclosed paths, and waveguide transmission with system-level implications for bandwidth and reliability [8], [9], [16], [14], [19], [18].