A light pipe modulator for broadband space communications at 10 microns
Abstract
A traveling wave, light pipe modulator for baseband digital modulation of CO2 lasers with data rates exceeding 1 Gbit/s is developed and tested. The modulator consists of three CdTe crystals, which are cut for optimum amplitude modulation and are embedded in a BeO structure to optically form an oversized waveguide. The electric modulation signal travels along stripline electrodes evaporated onto the crystals, achieving optical pulse widths of 900 ps. Due to technological imperfections and detector limitations, the theoretical limit in performance is not reached, and improvements in the detecting apparatus and in the modulator are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Lasers 1980; Proceedings of the International Conference
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981lase.conf..100S
- Keywords:
-
- Carbon Dioxide Lasers;
- Light Modulation;
- Modulators;
- Optical Communication;
- Space Communication;
- Traveling Wave Tubes;
- Broadband;
- Cadmium Tellurides;
- Digital Techniques;
- Electro-Optics;
- Optical Waveguides;
- Pulse Communication;
- Structural Design;
- Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking