Wideband heterodyne spatial tracking for optical space communications

D. Jonathan Bernays; Gary M. Carter; Kim Allen Winick

doi:10.1117/12.56088

1 March 1992 Wideband heterodyne spatial tracking for optical space communications

D. Jonathan Bernays, Gary M. Carter, Kim Allen Winick

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 31, Issue 3, (March 1992). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.56088

Abstract

wideband optical heterodyne spatial tracker for use in diodelaser-based heterodyne optical space communications is described. The tracking error signals are formed by correlating the output of an intensity-noise-canceling communications receiver with the outputs of the tracking photodetectors. This correlation technique removes noise-induced offsets, which may significantly limit performance of other wideband tracking schemes and is an alternative to adding amplitude modulation in the track channel. The technique also enhances the SNR in the track channel relative to square-law-based demodulation of the track channel alone. The correlation concept is experimentally verified and closed-loop tracking performance is demonstrated.

Citation Download Citation

D. Jonathan Bernays, Gary M. Carter, and Kim Allen Winick "Wideband heterodyne spatial tracking for optical space communications," Optical Engineering 31(3), (1 March 1992). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.56088

Published: 1 March 1992

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