The Design of CO₂ Laser Communication Systems

Abstract

Future demands for more information transfer in space will increase the demand for wider space communications with narrower beamwidths. Both of these requirements suggest using as high a carrier frequency as possible. The wider bandwidth is necessary to increase the information carrying capacity. The narrower beam allows the use of a smaller amount of transmitter power to a distant receiver and concomittenly results in larger antenna gains. The Carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser system meets many requirements for a space qualifiable space communication such as wideband modulation capability, potentially long life and reliability. In this paper we discuss several aspects of the design of a CO₂ laser communication system for space application in terms of overall functional requirements, system tradeoffs and subsystem component selection. The results require use of state-of-the-art components which are or can be space qualified.