Novel angular discriminator for spatial tracking in free-space laser communications

Jackie S. C. Fung

doi:10.1117/12.43755

1 June 1991 Novel angular discriminator for spatial tracking in free-space laser communications

Jackie S. C. Fung

Proceedings Volume 1417, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies III; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.43755
Event: Optics, Electro-Optics, and Laser Applications in Science and Engineering, 1991, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

A novel angular discriminator for spatial tracking in free-space laser communication systems is proposed. The device''s operating principle is to transform the angular difference between two laser beams into the electrical phase difference between the IF component of two coherently detected photocurrents. The electrical phase difference is thus easily estimated by a post-detection electronic processor. The angle-to-phase conversion of the Fabry-Perot Etalon is verified experimentally. The advantage of the novel angular discriminator for spatial tracking in free-space laser communications is that the mean and standard deviation of the angular tracking errors are small. The angular span can be made larger than one beamwidth in order to minimize the probability of reacquisition. The spatial tracking sensors and the communication photodetectors are integrated into a single system. The discriminator can be used for spatial acquisition as well.

Citation Download Citation

Jackie S. C. Fung "Novel angular discriminator for spatial tracking in free-space laser communications", Proc. SPIE 1417, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies III, (1 June 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.43755

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