There are a number of parametric challenges in designing transmit optical amplifiers for the current deployment of optical communication constellations. Constellations are often aligned to channel wavelengths defined by the Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Optical Communications Terminal Standard, which requires duplex operation at 1536.61 and 1553.33nm. We present an experimental characterisation supported by numerical modelling, of duplex operation up to 10W at both channel wavelengths and discuss performance limits. The characterisation includes power, out-of-channel amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) content and in-channel ASE content / noise figure determined from time-domain extinction measurements. For an output power of 10W, stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) can readily limit the delivery of optical power over relatively short fiber lengths. We also present the growth of a Stokes wave as a function of output power, delivery fiber length and fiber type experimentally. These results showing good agreement with theory, and set design limits on peak power transmission. These peak power considerations being of particular interest for pulse position modulation (PPM) encoding which are required in both the SDA and Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) 142.0-B-1 standards. The CCSDS and SDA standards both require a sinusoid amplitude modulated tracking tone. We present the limits of the design space of achievable modulation depth, as function of amplifier design, modulation condition and operating wavelength & power. A good agreement between experimental and numerical results is found.
The next generation high bandwidth optical links from earth to space will requirement the development of new high power WDM sources. In this paper G&H present the latest results of their ongoing development of these sources. Namely the development and testing of a 50W optical fibre amplifier that operables across much of C-band is presented as well as a high power wavelength division multiplexer, designed to combine multiple high power amplifiers outputs into a diffraction limited beam.
This paper reports on the design and manufacture of C-band multi-Watt optical fibre amplifiers for satellite laser communications. Three module types have been developed and are presented, outputting optical power of 1W, 3W and 5W respectively. A modular design was adopted for the amplifier so that it can be scaled to different power levels and achieve cost-effectiveness and mass manufacturing, thus enabling application in satellite constellations. Radiation testing demonstrates the robust performance against ionizing radiation levels found in LEO and GEO orbits. All degradations are within system requirements and are recoverable in operation by changing the operational parameters, whilst still complying with end of life power consumption and component de-rating specifications. The amplifiers are able to deliver >1W, >3W and >5W output power at 1550 nm for 100 krad TID based on the measurements performed. An environmental test campaign has demonstrated the robustness of the 5W module against sine and random vibration. Additionally, thermal cycling in vacuum has been performed on an optical breadboard, demonstrating a stable optical output, verifying the robustness of the optical design. G and H unit design and AIT space processes are capable of delivering robust and qualified fibre optic units for deployment in satellite laser communication missions.
We present the development and qualification testing of G&H multi-channel fiber amplifier unit developed for satellite to ground free space laser communications. The qualification results show robust functional and structural performance following stress at all 3 possible excitation axes with high level sine vibration, random vibration and mechanical shock as well as thermal cycling between survival and operating temperatures in vacuum condition.
We present the space qualification of a multi-channel mid-power booster optical fiber amplifier (OFA) suitable for 1550nm LEO satellite to ground laser communication downlinks. The end-to-end OFA development from conceptual design all the way through qualification testing followed ECSS-level Product Assurance guidelines for deployed materials, components and processes. The environmental qualification test programme relied on ECSS-E-10-03C which is the ESA standard for qualification testing of space segment hardware. The qualification results show robust functional and structural performance following stress at all 3 possible excitation axes with high level sine vibration, random vibration and mechanical shock as well as thermal cycling between survival and operating temperatures in vacuum condition. In addition to thermo-mechanical tests, proton and gamma radiation tests performed on component and sub-assembly level suggest that the OFA is capable to deliver its performance under ionizing and non-ionizing radiation levels found in the LEO orbit. The OFA has been delivered for system integration into the Optel-μ terminal, applicable to small satellite platforms.
Our research results concerning a space-dedicated C-band optical amplifier for application in telecommunication satellites are presented in this article. The device is based on a 7-core microstructured fiber where independent access to each core is granted by an all fiber fan-in/ fan-out coupler. The amplifier properties are described as well as its performance after irradiation to a maximal dose of 100 kRad. Also the difference between two kinds of fiber material compositions is discussed with regard to radiation resistance.
Laser communications has been identified as the technology to enable high-data rate, secure links between and within satellites, as well as between satellites and ground stations with decreased mass, size, and electrical power compared to traditional RF technology.
In this paper we present erbium doped fibre (EDF) aimed at signal amplification within satellite photonic payload systems operating in C telecommunication band. In such volume-hungry applications, the use of advanced optical transmission techniques such as space division multiplexing (SDM) can be advantageous to reduce the component and cable count.
Optical fiber amplifiers are key building blocks in laser communication terminals and telecom photonic payloads. In this paper we present 1.55μm booster amplifiers and pre-amplifiers suitable for satellite to ground, inter-satellite links and flexible photonic payloads. We validate the designs in the relevant space environment by characterizing the performance against ionizing radiation and report on functional performance of the amplifiers over temperature, in thermal vacuum and after vibration and mechanical shock.
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