The rapidly growing field of space-to-ground laser communication offers high throughput and secure data transfer without frequency allocation. Cailabs' TILBA-ATMO, leveraging Multi-Plane Light Conversion (MPLC) technology, provides turbulence mitigation for atmospheric communication. The 8-mode version showed promise at 100 Gbps, but for Optical Ground Stations (OGS) with large telescopes, a 45-mode system is required. Our latest research demonstrates the 45-mode TILBA-ATMO effectively achieves 10 Gbps data rates, meeting OGS requirements for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite signals at high Greenwood frequency and large D/r0.
Satellite constellations, whether for high-speed Internet access or for Earth observation using high-resolution imagery, are leading to a sharp increase in the volume of data to be brought back to Earth. To meet the needs of these very high-speed communication links, from 10 Gbps to 1 Tbps, optical technologies are becoming essential. Radio frequency technologies currently in use can no longer cope with such data rates without threatening the allocation of frequencies on Earth (5G-6G) or in space. However, to work at high debit rates, broadband optical communication systems require small detectors, high performance amplifiers or coherent modulation schemes needing high efficiency coupling into SMFs, which is subject to atmospheric turbulence. Using Cailabs' core technology, Multi-Plane Light Conversion (MPLC), followed by a photonic integrated chip optical recombiner, we have developed and qualified a unique component for turbulence compensation. This architecture provides high-speed turbulence mitigation at several kHz with the advantage of a single SMF output. In this paper, we investigate the fading improvement provided by this system over direct single mode fiber coupling under various environmental conditions and technical implementations. This system is tested on a km-long test link at Cailabs at up to 10 Gbps under appropriate environmental conditions and at higher debit rates on a turbulence emulation bench. Several configurations are evaluated, including several levels of turbulence. Meanwhile, Cailabs is building its first optical ground station for the LEO-ground optical link. We will present the first experimental results obtained and the roadmap for satellite-ground communication.
Space-to-ground laser communication is booming thanks to high throughput, stealth communication without frequency allocation. However, lasercom becomes really competitive beyond 10 Gbps. At this rate, fiber components, requiring SMF coupling, and thus turbulence mitigation become necessary.
Based on Cailabs' core technology, Multi-Plane Light Conversion (MPLC) followed by photonic integrated chip, Cailabs develops a turbulence mitigation product entirely dedicated to lasercom. Previous work showed proof of concept for the 8-mode version. In this article we investigate last results obtained with the system including 100 Gbps communication and present the new 45-modes turbulence mitigation version.
We demonstrate turbulence mitigation in a free-space optical link without adaptive optics. A module consisting of an 8-mode Multi-Plane Light Conversion (MPLC) device connected to a photonic integrated chip (PIC) collects a perturbed beam and converts it into a fundamental mode propagating in a standard single-mode fiber (SMF). Module is tested on a 200-meter optical link at 1550 nm under different D/r0 conditions. Results are compared to simulations and laboratory experiments using calibrated turbulent phase plates. We show increased coupling efficiency and lower fading compared to SMF coupling, demonstrating that MPLC and PIC are a viable turbulence mitigation option.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.