Large-aperture quantum well shutters for fast retroreflected optical data links in free space

G. Charmaine Gilbreath; William S. Rabinovich; Rita Mahon; Michael R. Corson; Mena F. Stell; D. Scott Katzer; Kiki Ikossi-Anastasiou; Timothy J. Meehan; John F. Kline

doi:10.1117/12.351384

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28 May 1999 Large-aperture quantum well shutters for fast retroreflected optical data links in free space

G. Charmaine Gilbreath, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon, Michael R. Corson, Mena F. Stell, D. Scott Katzer, Kiki Ikossi-Anastasiou, Timothy J. Meehan, John F. Kline

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Proceedings Volume 3707, Laser Radar Technology and Applications IV; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.351384
Event: AeroSense '99, 1999, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

This paper reports progress on the development of a fast modulating retroreflector for a free space optical data link. A previous publication reported sustaining video over a 17 meter link using a multiple quantum well shutter with a diameter of 0.5 cm at a rate on the order of 0.5 Mbps, limited by the demonstration electronics. This work describes improvements in the device performance, which is on the order of 4 Mbps to 6 Mbps with a Bit Error Rates of 10^-6 over a robust optical link. This device lends itself to an array configuration for long range applications and will clearly support T1 rates of 1.54 Mbps, and higher.

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G. Charmaine Gilbreath, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon, Michael R. Corson, Mena F. Stell, D. Scott Katzer, Kiki Ikossi-Anastasiou, Timothy J. Meehan, and John F. Kline "Large-aperture quantum well shutters for fast retroreflected optical data links in free space", Proc. SPIE 3707, Laser Radar Technology and Applications IV, (28 May 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.351384

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