Abstract

Unlike fiber-optic systems, high bandwidth (>20 Mbps), long distance (>10,000 km) free-space optical communication systems require high-power (>100 mW) laser transmitters and high sensitivity (tens of photons per bit) optical receivers to satisfy link budgets.¹-High-power cw space qualifiable diode-pumped Nd-doped lasers are available at the 1047 and 1064-nm Wavelengths.² High-power optical communications transmitters can be achieved in master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configurations.³ Low-power diode-pumped Nd-doped lasers and Waveguide modulators or direct current modulated 1047 and 1064-nm single frequency laser diodes⁴ can be used as the master oscillator with Nd-doped crystals as the power amplifiers. High sensitivity 1064-nm optical receivers are viable because of the availability of high quantum efficiency, low noise, high bandwidth silicon detectors.⁵ Using these transmitter and receiver components, high bandwidth 1064-nm free-space intersatellite communications systems can be built.

© 1992 Optical Society of America