<title>Laser communication intersatellite links realized with commercial off-the-shelf technology</title>

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the viability of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology in the design of high-performance optical intersatellite communications links. The optical links were operated at 155, 622 and 2488 Megabits per second (Mbps) and at 1550 nm wavelength. Communications components were evaluated against performance parameters for on-off keyed (OOK) systems. Transmitters, receivers, optical amplifiers, and filters, used to minimize the impact of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), were characterized individually and within system configurations. Bit error rate (BER) as a function of photons per bit was characterized for several system configurations. Extinction ratio analysis experiments were conducted to determine the limiting factors on the systems performance. Widely varying optical powers in space (for low earth orbit) imply a robust receiver dynamic range requirement. Dynamic range of COTS receivers was examined and resulted in sufficient performance. In addition, gamma radiation tests on fiber amplifiers were also evaluated in a system context.