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At least 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

Modulating Retro-Reflectors: Technology, Link Budgets and Applications

Satellite communications systems today -- usually radio frequency (RF) -- tend to have low data rates and use a lot of on-board power. For CubeSats, communications often dominate the power budget. We investigate the use of modulating retro-reflectors (MRRs), previously demonstrated on the ground, for high data-rate communication downlinks from small satellites. A laser ground station would illuminate a retro-reflector on-board the satellite while an element in the retro-reflector modulates the intensity of the reflected signal, thereby encoding a data stream on the returning beam. A detector on the ground receives the data, keeping the complex systems and the vast majority of power consumption on the ground. Reducing the power consumption while increasing data rates would relax constraints on power budgets for small satellites, leaving more power available for payloads. In the future, this could enable the use of constellations of nano-satellites for a variety of missions, possibly leading to a paradigm shift in small satellite applications.

Salas, Alberto Guillen↗
DOE OSTI2020

System and method for in-process inspection within advanced manufacturing processes

A system and method can include a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) in optical communication with a part during manufacturing and a transducer in ultrasonic communication with the part during manufacturing. The system can also include a controller connected to both the LDV and the transducer. The controller may be configured to cause the transducer to vibrate the part during manufacturing at a predetermined frequency and the LDV may be configured to measure one or more mechanical response types of the part during manufacturing based on one or more optical characteristics of a reflected beam. The controller may further be configured to determine whether a defect is present in the part during manufacturing in response to the one or more mechanical response types of the part.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2017

Status of NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communication Technology Demonstration

With NASA funding, the Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) Project at JPL is planning a system level technology demonstration of optical communications from deep space. A 22 cm diameter flight laser transceiver (FLT) is being developed for space flight. The FLT will be designed to transmit an average laser power of 4W at 1550 nm and receive a weak 1064 nm laser signal (> 100 femtowatts). Use of the Hale telescope at Palomar Mountain, CA, retrofitted with a photoncounting receiver to detect the downlink from space, is planned. The Optical Communication Telescope Laboratory (OCTL) at Table Mountain, CA will transmit a 1064 nm laser beacon to serve as a pointing reference for the FLT and support low-rate uplink data-rates. The DSOC FLT is part of the baseline payload for the Psyche mission spacecraft recently selected for flight by NASA, providing link demonstration opportunities during the mission cruise phase. Link demonstration opportunities at distances of approximately 0.1 to 2 astronomical units (AU) are expected. The DSOC system is being designed to support downlink data-rates of 0.2 to > 200 Mb/s and uplink data rates of approximately 1.6 kb/s. A status update of DSOC Project activities on flight and ground development will be summarized in this paper.

Biswas, Abhijit↗
DOE OSTI2021

Integrated structured light architectures

Abstract The structural versatility of light underpins an outstanding collection of optical phenomena where both geometrical and topological states of light can dictate how matter will respond or display. Light possesses multiple degrees of freedom such as amplitude, and linear, spin angular, and orbital angular momenta, but the ability to adaptively engineer the spatio-temporal distribution of all these characteristics is primarily curtailed by technologies used to impose any desired structure to light. We demonstrate a laser architecture based on coherent beam combination offering integrated spatio-temporal field control and programmability, thereby presenting unique opportunities for generating light by design to exploit its topology.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2003

Efficient Coupling of Lasers to Telescopes with Obscuration

Two techniques have been proposed to increase the efficiency of coupling of light from lasers to Cassegrain telescopes and, in general, telescopes with secondary or tertiary mirror obscuration. The need to increase the efficiency of coupling arises in laser transmitters of lidar and freespace optical communication systems that utilize Cassegrain telescopes. The vignetting caused by the secondary reflector and baffle in such a telescope reduces the transmitted power by a large fraction because (1) the obscured area is central and is a significant fraction of the telescope aperture and (2) the cross-sectional intensity profile of a typical laser beam is Gaussian, so that intensity is greatest in the obscured central area. In a technique proposed previously for increasing the efficiency of coupling, an optical assembly comprising an axicon device and a folding mirror that would render the solid laser beam annular - in effect, turning the laser beam inside out - so that the laser light would be concentrated into an annular cross section that would not be obscured by the secondary reflector and baffle. Hence, most or all of the light would be coupled into the output beam. Another prior efficiency-enhancing technique is denoted subaperture illumination. In this technique, the laser beam is displaced laterally with respect to the optical axis of the secondary reflector, such that the beam impinges on an off-axis subaperture of the primary reflector that is not obscured by the secondary reflector and baffle.

Hemmati, Hamid↗
NASA NTRS2004

Aircraft Detection System Ensures Free-Space Laser Safety

As scientists continue to explore our solar system, there are increasing demands to return greater volumes of data from smaller deep-space probes. Accordingly, NASA is studying advanced strategies based on free-space laser transmissions, which offer secure, high-bandwidth communications using smaller subsystems of much lower power and mass than existing ones. These approaches, however, can pose a danger to pilots in the beam path because the lasers may illuminate aircraft and blind them. Researchers thus are investigating systems that will monitor the surrounding airspace for aircraft that could be affected. This paper presents current methods for safe free space laser propagation.

Smithgall, Brian↗
NASA NTRS1997

Optical Characterization and 2,525 micron Lasing of Cr(2+):Cd(0.85)Mn(0.15)Te

Transition metal doped solids are of significant current interest for the development of tunable solid-state lasers for the near and mid-infrared (1-4 pm) spectral region. Applications of these lasers include basic research in atomic, molecular, and solid-state physics, optical communication, medicine, and environmental studies of the atmosphere. In transition metal based laser materials, absorption and emission of light arises from electronic transitions between crystal field split energy levels of 3d transition metal ions. The optical spectra generally exhibit broad bands due to the strong interaction between dopant and host (electron-phonon coupling). Broad emission bands offer the prospect of tunable laser activity over a wide wavelength range, e.g. the tuning range of Ti:Sapphire extends from 700-1100 run. The only current transition metal laser operating in the mid-infrared wavelength region (1.8-2.4 micro-m) is CO(2+):MgF2, but its performance is severely limited due to strong nonradiative decay at room temperature. Based on lifetime data, the quantum efficiency is estimated to be less than 3 deg/0 11,21. In general, the probability for non-radiative decay via multi-phonon relaxation increases with decreasing energy gap between ground and excited state. Therefore, efficient transition metal lasers beyond -1.6 micro-m are rare. Recently, tunable laser activity around 2.3 micro-m was observed from Cr doped ZnS and ZnSe. The new lasing center in these materials was identified as Cr(2+) occupying the tetrahedral Zn site. Tetrahedrally coordinated optical centers are rather unusual among transition metal lasers. Their potential usefulness, however, has been demonstrated by the recent development of near infrared laser materials such as Cr:forsterite and Cr:YAG, which are based on tetrahedrally coordinated Cr(4+) ions. According to the Laporte selection rule, electric-dipole transition within the optically active 3d-electron shells are parity forbidden. However, a static acentric electric crystal field or the coupling of asymmetric phonons can force electric-dipole transitions by the admixture of wave functions with opposite parity. Tetrahedral sites lack inversion symmetry which provides the odd-parity field necessary to relax the parity selection rule. Therefore, high absorption and emission cross sections are observed. An enhanced radiative emission rate is also expected to reduce the detrimental effect of non-radiative decay. Motivated by the initial results on Cr doped ZnS and ZnSe, we have started a comprehensive effort to study Cr(2+) doped II-VI semiconductors for solid-state laser applications. In this paper we present the optical properties and the demonstration of mid-infrared lasing from Cr doped Cd(0.85)Mn(0.15)Te.

Davis, V. R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

An integral sunshade for optical reception antennas

Optical reception antennas (telescopes) must be capable of receiving communications even when the deep-space laser source is located within a small angle of the Sun. Direst sunlight must not be allowed to shine on the primary reflector of an optical reception antenna, because too much light would be scattered into the signal detectors. A conventional sunshade that does not obstruct the antenna aperture would have to be about five times longer than its diameter in order to receive optical communications at a solar elongation of 12 degrees without interference. Such a long sunshade could not be accommodated within the dome of any existing large-aperture astronomical facility, and providing a new dome large enough would be prohibitively expensive. It is also desirable to reduce the amount of energy a space-based large-aperture optical reception facility would expend orienting a structure with such a sizable moment of inertia. Since a large aperture optical reception antenna will probably have a hexagonally segmented primary reflector, a sunshade consisting of hexagonal tubes can be mounted in alignment with the segmentation without producing any additional geometric obstruction. An analysis of the duration and recurrence of solar-conjunction communications outages (caused when a deep-space probe near an outer planet appears to be closer to the Sun than a given minimum solar elongation), and the design equations for the integral sunshade are appended.

Kerr, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Integral sunshade for an optical reception antenna

Optical reception antennas (telescopes) must be capable of receiving communications even when the deep-space laser source is located within a small angle of the sun. Direct sunlight must not be allowed to shine on the primary reflector of an optical reception antenna, because too much light would be scattered into the signal detectors. A conventional sunshade that does not obstruct the antenna aperture would have to be about five times longer than its diameter in order to receive optical communications at a solar elongation of 12 degrees without interference. Such a long sunshade could not be accommodated within the dome of any existing large-aperture astronomical facility, and providing a new dome large enough would be prohibitively expensive. It is also desirable to reduce the amount of energy a space-based large-aperture optical reception facility would expend orienting a structure with such a sizable moment of inertia. Since a large aperture optical reception antenna will probably have a hexagonally segmented primary reflector, a sunshade consisting of hexagonal tubes can be mounted in alignment with the segmentation without producing any additional geometric obstruction. An analysis of the duration and recurrence of solar-conjunction communications outages (caused when a deep-space probe near an outer planet appears to be closer to the sun than a given minimum solar elongation), and the design equations for the integral sunshade are appended.

Kerr, Edwin L.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Fiber Pulling Apparatus

The fiber optics industry has grown into a multi-billion marketplace that will continue to grow into the 21st century. Optical fiber communications is currently dominated by silica glass technology. Successful efforts to improve upon the low loss transmission characteristics of silica fibers have propelled the technology into the forefront of the communications industry. However, reaching the theoretical transmission capability of silica fiber through improved processing has still left a few application areas in which other fiber systems can provide an influential role due to specific characteristics of high theoretical transmission in the 2 - 3 micron wavelength region. One of the other major materials used for optical fibers is the systems based upon Heavy Metal Fluoride Glass (HMFG). Commercial interest is driven primarily by the potential for low loss repeaterless infrared fibers. An example of the major communications marketplace which would benefit from the long distance repeaterless capability of infrared fibers is the submarine cables which link the continents. When considering commercial interests, optical fiber systems provide a healthy industrial position which continues to expand. Major investments in the systems used for optical fiber communications have continued to increase each year and are predicted to continue well into the next century. Estimates of 8.5% compounded annually are predicted through 1999 for the North American market and 1 1 % worldwide. The growth for the optical fiber cable itself is expected to continue between 44 and 50 per cent of the optical fiber communications budget through 1999. The total budget in 1999 world-wide is expected to be in the neighborhood of $9 billion. Another survey predicts that long haul telecommunications represents 15% of a world-wide fiber optics market in 1998. The actual amount allotted to cable was not specified. However, another market research had predicted that the cable costs alone represents more than 50% of the total budget each year through 1998. A newly emerging activity is the commercial development of doped optical fibers which can be pumped by laser diodes to provide amplification of the communication signals. This technology is newly emerging and will be developed for commercial interests in the United States by Galileo Electro-optical Incorporated in Sturbridge, MA on a license from British Telecom. Long repeaterless communication links provide the biggest stimulus for this technology. As an example of the of the revenues involved in the optical fiber communications 3 industry, the current trade journal lists that for the fiscal years, 1991 - 1994, 185 separate undersea links were established. In addition, another 105 links are planned through 1998. The distribution of revenues involved in the undersea installations is roughly $8.5 billion through 1993 and another $13 billion planned through 1998. A large portion of the future activity (34%) is planned for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region. Other examples of the commercial utility of optical fiber networks is given in a recent scientific symposium in which the outlook for HMFG infrared fiber was determined to be very bright.Another area of interest lies in the use of fiber optics for laser surgery delivery systems.

Workman, Gary L.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Fiber Optic Cables for Transmission of High-Power Laser Pulses in Spaceflight Applications

Lasers with high peak power pulses are commonly used in spaceflight missions for a wide range of applications, from LIDAR systems to optical communications. Due to the high optical power needed, the laser has to be located on the exterior of the satellite or coupled through a series of free space optics. This presents challenges for thermal management, radiation resistance, and mechanical design. Future applications will require multiple lasers located close together, which further complicates the design. Coupling the laser energy into a fiber optic cable allows the laser to be relocated to a more favorable position on the spacecraft. Typical fiber optic termination procedures are not sufficient for injection of these high-power laser pulses without catastrophic damage to the fiber endface. In the current study, we will review the causes of fiber damage during high-power injection and discuss our new manufacturing procedures that overcome these issues to permit fiber use with high reliability in these applications. We will also discuss the proper methods for launching the laser pulses into the fiber to avoid damage and how this is being implemented for current spaceflight missions.

Thomes, W. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Atmospheric studies and applications with infrared heterodyne detection techniques

With the advent of stable, cw infrared lasers with moderate output power capabilities in the mid 1960's came the idea of using heterodyne detection, a mature radio frequency technique, in the infrared. This technique was first applied in radar and communications applications; however, it became apparent that infrared lasers and heterodyne detection techniques would be useful in a number of atmospheric measurement applications. The level to which these techniques are being put to use in field measurements is shown using two developed flight instruments as examples.

Menzies, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Direct-detection optical communication with color coded pulse position modulation signaling

The performance characteristics of a direct-detection optical communication system which is based on a laser transmitter which produces single light pulses at selected nonoverlapping optical center frequencies are discussed. The signal format, called color coded pulse position modulation (CCPPM), uses more of the total available response bandwidth characteristics of the photodetector than does ordinary PPM signaling. The advantages of CCPPM signaling are obtained at the expense of an increased optical bandwidth of the transmitted signal and a more complicated transmitter and receiver structure. When the signal format is used in conjunction with block length Reed-Solomon codes, high data rates and reliable high-speed optical communications under conditions of optimal energy efficiency are obtained.

Davidson, F.↗
NASA NTRS1992

An extended-source spatial acquisition process based on maximum likelihood criterion for planetary optical communications

This paper describes an extended-source spatial acquisition process based on the maximum likelihood criterion for interplanetary optical communications. The objective is to use the sun-lit Earth image as a receiver beacon and point the transmitter laser to the Earth-based receiver to establish a communication path. The process assumes the existence of a reference image. The uncertainties between the reference image and the received image are modeled as additive white Gaussian disturbances. It has been shown that the optimal spatial acquisition requires solving two nonlinear equations to estimate the coordinates of the transceiver from the received camera image in the transformed domain. The optimal solution can be obtained iteratively by solving two linear equations. Numerical results using a sample sun-lit Earth as a reference image demonstrate that sub-pixel resolutions can be achieved in a high disturbance environment. Spatial resolution is quantified by Cramer-Rao lower bounds.

Yan, Tsun-Yee↗
NASA NTRS2008

Integrated Formation Optical Communication and Estimation System

An architecture has been designed that integrates formation estimation methodologies, precision formation sensing, and high-bandwidth formation communication into a robust, strap-on system that meets knowledge and communication requirements for the majority of planned, precision formation missions. Specifically, the integrated system supports (a) sub-millimeter metrology, (b) multiple greater than 10 Mbps communication channels over a large, 10 deg field-of-view (FOV), and (c) generalized formation estimation methodologies. The sensing sub-system consists of several absolute, metrology gauges with up to 0.1 mm precision that use amplitude-modulated lasers and a LISA-heritage phase meter. Since amplitude modulation is used, inexpensive and robust diode lasers may be used instead of complex, frequency-stabilized lasers such as for nanometer-level metrology. The metrology subsystem laser transceivers consist of a laser diode, collecting optics, and an avalanche photo diode (APD) for detecting incoming laser signals. The APD is necessary since received power is small due to the large (for optical applications) FOV. The phase meter determines the phase of the incoming amplitude modulations as measured by the APD. This phase is equivalent to time-of-flight and, therefore, distance. By placing three laser transceivers on each spacecraft, 18 clock-offset-corrupted distances are calculated. These measurements are communicated and averaged to obtain nine correct distances between the transceivers. From these correct distances, the range and bearing between spacecraft and their relative attitude are determined. Next, communication is integrated on the laser carrier through spectral separation. Metrology amplitude modulations are limited to the 45-50 MHz band, leaving 0-45 MHz for communication. Through careful design of coding scheme, error correction, and filters, six independent 10 Mbps receive channels are possible. Hence, a spacecraft can simultaneously broadcast at 10 Mbps and listen to six other spacecraft. The integrated sensing and communication architecture has been developed, as have formation estimation methodologies that allow the sensing topology to reconfigure as spacecraft maneuver. A bench-top implementation of the integrated sensing and communication architecture is in progress. The final, multiple sensing/communication systems will be tied together via formation estimation algorithms that are also undergoing further development.

Scharf, Daniel↗