Evaluation and implementation of cone tracking for free-space optical communication with a retromodulator

Eric Saint-Georges

doi:10.1117/1.3509365

1 November 2010 Evaluation and implementation of cone tracking for free-space optical communication with a retromodulator

Eric Saint-Georges

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 49, Issue 11, 115002 (November 2010). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3509365

Abstract

Cone tracking is a well-known method to optimize the pointing of a beam, and has been reported previously in the case of direct-mode free-space optical communication links, using a beacon or a dedicated wavelength to carry the feedback. In a retro link, because the beam is reflected back to the transmitter, feedback data are locally available. We present here the results of an evaluation (both simulation and experiments) of the cone-tracking technique applied to a retro link and how the implementation can be optimized for this specific case. We show that, using only a small number of samples (as few as 16 with 625-Hz modulation frequency), we can retrieve the pointing error. We finally demonstrate cone tracking (a closed loop maintaining the beam center on the retroreflector) with modulation amplitude as low as 1% of the beam divergence.

©(2010) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Citation Download Citation

Eric Saint-Georges "Evaluation and implementation of cone tracking for free-space optical communication with a retromodulator," Optical Engineering 49(11), 115002 (1 November 2010). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3509365

Published: 1 November 2010

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available