From Event: SPIE OPTO, 2023
The demand for optical technologies in space is growing rapidly driven by the advent of low-earth orbit satellite “mega-constellations” providing global communication services. Free space optical communications between satellites in low earth orbit presents a number of technology challenges related to maintaining stable links between two satellites separated by thousands of kilometers. One principal challenge is the development of mechanically robust, mass-producible beam-steering technologies with low SWaP, and recurring cost. One potential solution to this challenge is to replace costly mechanical steering mechanisms with beam-steering elements such as on-chip optical phase arrays. This work presents ongoing research towards the development of an on-chip wide-steering optical phase array for inter-satellite communications. The presentation will cover the system architecture, component design, and control algorithms for synchronizing many emitters into a single output beam.
© (2023) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hugh Podmore, Akash Chauhan, Brett Poulsen, Michael Zylstra, Xiaochen Xin, Mackenzie Essington, Ahmed Y. Elsharabasy, M. Ruhul Fatin, Nicholas Zonta, Greg Iu, Alan Scott, Tamara Djokic, Jayshri Sabarinathan, Winnie Ye, Amr S. Helmy, and Regina Lee, "Design and analysis of on-chip optical phase array systems for satellite communications," Proc. SPIE PC12425, Smart Photonic and Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits 2023, PC124250H (Presented at SPIE OPTO: February 01, 2023; Published: 17 March 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2657144.6321514137112.