Pulse position modulated (PPM) ground receiver design for optical communications from deep space

Abhijit Biswas; Victor Vilnrotter; William H. Farr; D. Fort; E. Sigman

doi:10.1117/12.464093

26 April 2002 Pulse position modulated (PPM) ground receiver design for optical communications from deep space

Abhijit Biswas, Victor Vilnrotter, William H. Farr, D. Fort, E. Sigman

Proceedings Volume 4635, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XIV; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.464093
Event: High-Power Lasers and Applications, 2002, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Pulse position modulation (PPM) provides a means of using high peak power lasers for transmitting communications signals from planetary spacecraft to earth-based receiving stations. Large aperture (approximately 10 m diameter) telescopes will be used to collect and focus the laser communications signal originating from a deep space transmitter on to a PPM receiver. Large area (1 - 3 mm diameter) sensitive detectors, preceded by appropriate narrow (0.1 - 0.2 nm) optical band-pass filters and followed by low-noise, high-gain, amplifiers will serve as the PPM receiver front end. A digital assembly will form the backbone of the receiver. The PPM receiver will achieve and maintain slot synchronization based on sub slot sums generated by a field programmable-gated array (FPGA). Spacecraft dynamics and timing issues between the ground- based receiver and the transmitter on board the spacecraft must be taken into account. In the present report, requirements and design of a prototype PPM receiver being developed over the next year will be elaborated. The design is driven by the need to demonstrate and validate PPM reception using a variety of detectors under simulated conditions representative of those to be encountered in a deep space optical communications link.

Citation Download Citation

Abhijit Biswas, Victor Vilnrotter, William H. Farr, D. Fort, and E. Sigman "Pulse position modulated (PPM) ground receiver design for optical communications from deep space", Proc. SPIE 4635, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XIV, (26 April 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.464093

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