Free-space optical communication (FSOC) with its high data transfer rate, strong security, and low power consumption, holds promising potential as the primary means for space information transfer in the next generation.
The inherent small divergence angle of space optical communication poses significant challenges to establishing communication links. Therefore, laser link acquisition becomes a crucial technology in optical communication, with a primary focus on reducing acquisition time effectively.
To overcome this challenge, a research team led by Prof. HAN Junfeng from Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics has proposed an on-orbit rapid calibration method based on parameter optimization is proposed for installation matrix of the optical communication terminal. The study was published in Optics Letters.
This method addresses the errors caused by satellite stress release that affects the alignment of the optical axis and precision pointing mechanism of the optical communication terminal. By calibrating the installation matrix parameters, the initial pointing accuracy of the terminal can be significantly improved, and the range of the fields of uncertainty (FOU) can be greatly reduced, thereby enhancing the on-orbit scanning acquisition probability of the optical communication terminal and reducing the acquisition time.
Notably, in the 14th experiment, the researchers achieved acquisition in 22s and maintained a zero-BER rate optical communication at a speed of 2.8Gbps for 145 minutes.
This method can be applied to inter-satellite optical communication in different orbits, satellite-to-ground optical communication, and deep space optical communication.
In the future, this technology has the potential to enhance the efficiency of satellite optical communication networks and provide an effective solution for rapid re-establishment of optical communication links after interruptions.
(Available online 15th November 2023)
On-orbit inter-satellite optical communication verification experiment. (Image by Wang Xuan)
Experimental results of on-orbit acquisition. (Image by WANG Xuan)
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