A 10.6 μm TERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATION LINK*

Abstract

This paper reports the development of an experimental type 10.6 μm laser communication system, consisting of a transmitter terminal and a receiver terminal, designed to operate one wav over a nominal five-mile path. The system provides a 5 MB/s digital data channel using a frequency shift keying format and optical heterodyne detection with a mercury cadmium telluride detector operating at a temperature of 77°K. The system is the first CO2 laser heterodyne communication system which is capable of hands-off, uninterrupted operation in a nonlaboratory environment. The achievement of single frequency operation of a laser transmitter and local oscillator in a field system is the result of more than seven years of research and development. Laser frequency purity, stability and control, all questions of primary concern previously, have been proven satisfactory with the development of this system. This paper reports the operation of the system during environmental tests, over a 4.1-mile test range, a 19.5-mile test range at the Hughes facility, and over a three mile test range at Ft. Monmouth, N.J. over a period of several months. During a period of 1320 hours of continuous operation, the system was inoperable for 65 hours due to weather conditions, demonstrating a reliability of 95%.