Nonlinear Optics for Frequency-Doubling in Nanosatellite Laser Communication
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Clark_SmallSat_Nonlinear_optics.pdf
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main article
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794.62 KB
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Author(s)
Clark, James R.
Cahoy, Kerri
Date Issued
August 2016
Journal
Proceedings of the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites
Publisher
Utah State University
Citation
Clark, Jim and Cahoy, Kerri. "Nonlinear Optics for Frequency-Doubling in Nanosatellite Laser Communication." Proceedings of the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, Technical Session VIII: Frank J. Redd Student Competition, SSC16-VIII-5. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2016/TS8StudentComp/5/ © 2016 The Author(s)
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Free-space optical communication attracts interest due to its promise of higher data rates for similar size, weight, and power costs compared with radio systems. However, while satellite-to-ground optical communication has been tested from low Earth orbit and the Moon, intersatellite optical links are still an area of active research and development. Second-harmonic generation (SHG, or “frequency doubling”) with nonlinear optics may improve the link margins of laser systems that serve as crosslinks as well as downlinks. For example, the output of a 1550 nm laser could be doubled to 775 nm on command, allowing the satellite to use whichever wavelength is advantageous (e.g. improved detector and propagation properties), without spending the mass budget for an entire second laser system. Link-budget analysis suggests that a nanosatellite crosslink can gain 3-4 dB of link margin with a frequency-doubler. This improvement is largely driven by the reduction in beamwidth that comes with the higher frequency. It is not substantially greater than the improvement that comes with using the same narrower beamwidth at 1550 nm. However, SHG would allow a diffraction-limited system to use different beamwidths for beacon acquisition and communication without any moving parts.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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DOI of Published Version
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2016/TS8StudentComp/5/
