Implementation and validation of a CubeSat laser transmitter

R. W. Kingsbury; D. O. Caplan; K. L. Cahoy

doi:10.1117/12.2217990

15 March 2016 Implementation and validation of a CubeSat laser transmitter

R. W. Kingsbury, D. O. Caplan, K. L. Cahoy

Proceedings Volume 9739, Free-Space Laser Communication and Atmospheric Propagation XXVIII; 973905 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2217990
Event: SPIE LASE, 2016, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The paper presents implementation and validation results for a CubeSat-scale laser transmitter. The master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) design produces a 1550 nm, 200mW average power optical signal through the use of a directly modulated laser diode and a commercial fiber amplifier. The prototype design produces high-fidelity M-ary pulse position modulated (PPM) waveforms (M=8 to 128), targeting data rates > 10 Mbit/s while meeting a constraining 8W power allocation. We also present the implementation of an avalanche photodiode (APD) receiver with measured transmitter-to-receiver performance within 3 dB of theory. Via loopback, the compact receiver design can provide built-in self-test and calibration capabilities, and supports incremental on-orbit testing of the design.

Citation Download Citation

R. W. Kingsbury, D. O. Caplan, and K. L. Cahoy "Implementation and validation of a CubeSat laser transmitter", Proc. SPIE 9739, Free-Space Laser Communication and Atmospheric Propagation XXVIII, 973905 (15 March 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2217990

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