On-orbit demonstration of inter-satellite free-space optical stable communication enabled by integrated optical amplification of HPA and LNA

• DOI: 10.1364/ao.484983
• Publication Date: 2023-03-29T14:00:13Z
• Authors: Zhaofeng Bai; Jiacheng Meng; Yulong Su; Yunqiang Zheng; Zhiyuan Chang; Sentao Wei; Duorui Gao; Wenchao Nie; Xiangsheng Meng; Junfeng Han; Bin Xue; Chunmin Zhang; Wei Wang; Xiaoping Xie
• Keywords: Free-Space Optical Communication; Communications satellite; Payload (computing)

Satellite free-space optical (FSO) communication is very promising in improving the bandwidth and capacity of space information networks future. However, inter-satellite transmission distance over 1000 km leads to unstable beam pointing, acquisition, tracking then generates power jitter by a large margin before detection-demodulation. Therefore, it difficult realize high-stability long-time FSO between satellites due generated bit error rate (BER) jitter. In this paper, we report an autonomously self-designed high-integration laser payload (LCP) on-orbit-demonstrated 145 min, zero-BER stable with line 2.8 Gbps. Moreover, based on link, video phone was clearly implemented for more than 10 authentic user data transmitted 459,149 packets, achieving results zero-packet loss. Summarily, on-orbit experiment demonstrated excellent performance LCP owing distinctive design integrating high-power amplifier low-noise amplification function. Our mission successfully completed, demonstration may offer significant reference field satellite networks.