TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimal Design of Small-Aperture Optical Terminals for Free-Space Links
AU - Frost, Alex
AU - Dix-Matthews, Benjamin
AU - Walsh, Shane
AU - Gozzard, David
AU - Schediwy, Sascha
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - We present the generalised design of low-complexity, small-aperture optical terminals intended for kilometre-scale, terrestrial, free-space laser links between fixed and dynamic targets. The design features single-mode fibre coupling of the free-space beam, assisted by a fast-steering, tip/tilt mirror that enables first-order turbulence suppression and fine target tracking. The total power throughput over the free-space link and the scintillation index in fibre are optimised. The optimal tip/tilt correction bandwidth and range, aperture size, and focal length for a given link are derived using analytical atmospheric turbulence modelling and numerical simulations.
AB - We present the generalised design of low-complexity, small-aperture optical terminals intended for kilometre-scale, terrestrial, free-space laser links between fixed and dynamic targets. The design features single-mode fibre coupling of the free-space beam, assisted by a fast-steering, tip/tilt mirror that enables first-order turbulence suppression and fine target tracking. The total power throughput over the free-space link and the scintillation index in fibre are optimised. The optimal tip/tilt correction bandwidth and range, aperture size, and focal length for a given link are derived using analytical atmospheric turbulence modelling and numerical simulations.
KW - atmospheric turbulence
KW - free-space optical
KW - single-mode fibre
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85210435588&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/photonics11111035
DO - 10.3390/photonics11111035
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85210435588
SN - 2304-6732
VL - 11
JO - Photonics
JF - Photonics
IS - 11
M1 - 1035
ER -