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Adaptive Optics pre-compensated laser uplink to LEO and GEO

Osborn, James; Townson, Matthew; Farley, Oliver; Reeves, Andrew; Mata Calvo, Ramon

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Authors

Oliver Farley

Andrew Reeves

Ramon Mata Calvo



Abstract

We present the results from a Monte Carlo computer simulation of adaptive optics (AO) pre-compensated laser uplink propagation through the Earth’s atmospheric turbulence from the ground to orbiting satellites. The simulation includes the so-called point-ahead angle and tests several potential AO mitigation modes such as tip/tilt or full AO from the downlink beam, and a laser guide star at the point ahead angle. The performance of these modes, as measured by metrics relevant for free-space optical communication, are compared with no correction and perfect correction. The aim of the study is to investigate fundamental limitations of free-space optical communications with AO pre-compensation and a point-ahead angle, therefore the results represent an upper bound of AO corrected performance, demonstrating the potential of pre-compensation technology. Performance is assessed with varying launch aperture size, wavelength, launch geometry, ground layer turbulence strength (i.e. day/night), elevation angle and satellite orbit (Low-Earth and Geostationary). By exploring this large parameter space we are able examine trends on performance with the aim of informing the design of future optical ground stations and demonstrating and quantifying the potential upper bounds of adaptive optics performance in free-space optical communications.

Citation

Osborn, J., Townson, M., Farley, O., Reeves, A., & Mata Calvo, R. (2021). Adaptive Optics pre-compensated laser uplink to LEO and GEO. Optics Express, 29(4), 6113-6132. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.413013

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 1, 2021
Online Publication Date Feb 11, 2021
Publication Date 2021
Deposit Date Feb 12, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Optics Express
Publisher Optica
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 29
Issue 4
Pages 6113-6132
DOI https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.413013

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