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Title: System and method that suppresses intensity fluctuations for free space high-speed optical communication

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1001790
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
  2. Santa Fe, NM
  3. Kiev, UA
+ Show Author Affiliations

A high-speed (Gbps), free space optical communication system is based on spectral encoding of radiation from a wide band light source, such as a laser. By using partially coherent laser beams in combination with a relatively slow photosensor, scintillations can be suppressed by orders of magnitude for distances of more than 10 km. To suppress the intensity fluctuations due to atmospheric turbulence, a source with partial transverse coherence in combination with slow response time photodetector is used. Information is encoded in the spectral domain of a wideband optical source by modulation of spectral amplitudes. A non-coherent light source with wide spectrum (an LED, for example) may be used for high-speed communication over short (less than about a mile) distances.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
Assignee:
Los Alamos National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)
Patent Number(s):
7,603,038
Application Number:
11/516,136
OSTI ID:
1001790
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Multiple quantum well (MQW) spatial light modulators (SLMs) for optical data processing and beam steering
  • Ahearn, John S.; Weiler, Margaret H.; Adams, Stephen B.
  • International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, SPIE Proceedings https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447759
conference November 2001
Model for a partially coherent Gaussian beam in atmospheric turbulence with application in Lasercom journal February 2004
Pseudo-partially coherent beam for free-space laser communication conference October 2004
Atmospheric optical communication with a Gaussian Schell beam journal January 2003
Electromagnetic beam propagation in turbulent media journal January 1975
Strong intensity fluctuation in the field of a light beam in a turbulent atmosphere journal March 1976
Free-space optical communications: opportunities and challenges from a carrier's perspective conference August 2002
Experimental optical CDMA system based on spectral amplitude encoding of noncoherent broadband sources conference December 1995
Photon distribution function for long-distance propagation of partially coherent beams through the turbulent atmosphere journal July 2006

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