Coherent modulating retroreflector system

Peter G. Goetz; Rita Mahon; Lee Swingen; Jennifer L. Witkowsky; William S. Rabinovich

doi:10.1117/12.561703

20 October 2004 Coherent modulating retroreflector system

Peter G. Goetz, Rita Mahon, Lee Swingen, Jennifer L. Witkowsky, William S. Rabinovich

Proceedings Volume 5550, Free-Space Laser Communications IV; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.561703
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

One unusual aspect of a modulating retroreflector (MRR) system is that the interrogating laser and the receiver are collocated. This fact, plus the lack of optical amplifiers capable of low data rates, makes the use of a coherent receiver attractive. By splitting off a portion of the interrogating beam, a local oscillator (LO) is made available to mix with the returning signal beam. This self-homodyning is accomplished at very low cost, without the need for an additional laser or an optical phase-locked loop. Changes are only required in the interrogator/receiver, so increased ranges could be realized with no changes to MRR transmitters that have already been developed. A similar method could be used to realize a heterodyne system. To cancel the effects of atmospheric turbulence, a phase-diversity receiver configuration was used. A maximum gain of about 17 dB was observed, limited by saturation of the receiver electronics. The use of coherent interrogator/receivers can increase receiver sensitivity, extending the range of existing systems and showing great promise for modulating retroreflector links.

Citation Download Citation

Peter G. Goetz, Rita Mahon, Lee Swingen, Jennifer L. Witkowsky, and William S. Rabinovich "Coherent modulating retroreflector system", Proc. SPIE 5550, Free-Space Laser Communications IV, (20 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.561703

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