Optical free-space communications at middle infra-red wavelengths

Rainer Martini; Chris Glazowski; Edward A. Whittaker; Warren W. Harper; Yin Fong Su; John F. Shultz; Claire F. Gmachl; Federico Capasso; Deborah L. Sivco; Alfred Y. Cho

doi:10.1117/12.516517

Optical free-space communications at middle infra-red wavelengths

Rainer Martini, Chris Glazowski, Edward A. Whittaker, Warren W. Harper, Yin Fong Su, John F. Shultz, Claire F. Gmachl, Federico Capasso, Deborah L. Sivco, Alfred Y. Cho

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

We consider the application of mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength quantum cascade lasers (QCL) as sources for free-space optical communications. QCL's possess high modulation bandwidth and excellent optical performance in the atmospherically transparent MIR spectral range. In order to investigate this potential application area, we have performed a series of comparative evaluations on analog and digital free-space optical links operating in the near-infrared (NIR) (830nm, 1300nm and 1550nm) and mid-infrared (8μm). The measurements were made using well controlled atmospheric conditions in the 65ft long Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Aerosol Wind Tunnel Research Facility using water vapor, oil vapor and dust as the scattering media. We measured the transmitted intensity as a function of the density of scatterers in the tunnel. We also performed bit error rate analysis of signals transmitted at the DS-3 data rate. The QCL link consistently showed a higher performance level when compared to the NIR links for water fog, oil fog and dust scattering.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	196-202
Number of pages	7
Journal	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	5359
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.516517
State	Published - 2004
Event	Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices - San Jose, CA, United States Duration: Jan 25 2004 → Jan 29 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

Atmospheric optical propagation
Infrared spectroscopy
Optical communications
Semiconductor lasers

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10.1117/12.516517

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title = "Optical free-space communications at middle infra-red wavelengths",

abstract = "We consider the application of mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength quantum cascade lasers (QCL) as sources for free-space optical communications. QCL's possess high modulation bandwidth and excellent optical performance in the atmospherically transparent MIR spectral range. In order to investigate this potential application area, we have performed a series of comparative evaluations on analog and digital free-space optical links operating in the near-infrared (NIR) (830nm, 1300nm and 1550nm) and mid-infrared (8μm). The measurements were made using well controlled atmospheric conditions in the 65ft long Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Aerosol Wind Tunnel Research Facility using water vapor, oil vapor and dust as the scattering media. We measured the transmitted intensity as a function of the density of scatterers in the tunnel. We also performed bit error rate analysis of signals transmitted at the DS-3 data rate. The QCL link consistently showed a higher performance level when compared to the NIR links for water fog, oil fog and dust scattering.",

keywords = "Atmospheric optical propagation, Infrared spectroscopy, Optical communications, Semiconductor lasers",

author = "Rainer Martini and Chris Glazowski and Whittaker, {Edward A.} and Harper, {Warren W.} and Su, {Yin Fong} and Shultz, {John F.} and Gmachl, {Claire F.} and Federico Capasso and Sivco, {Deborah L.} and Cho, {Alfred Y.}",

year = "2004",

doi = "10.1117/12.516517",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "5359",

pages = "196--202",

journal = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

issn = "0277-786X",

publisher = "SPIE",

note = "Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices ; Conference date: 25-01-2004 Through 29-01-2004",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Optical free-space communications at middle infra-red wavelengths

AU - Martini, Rainer

AU - Glazowski, Chris

AU - Whittaker, Edward A.

AU - Harper, Warren W.

AU - Su, Yin Fong

AU - Shultz, John F.

AU - Gmachl, Claire F.

AU - Capasso, Federico

AU - Sivco, Deborah L.

AU - Cho, Alfred Y.

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - We consider the application of mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength quantum cascade lasers (QCL) as sources for free-space optical communications. QCL's possess high modulation bandwidth and excellent optical performance in the atmospherically transparent MIR spectral range. In order to investigate this potential application area, we have performed a series of comparative evaluations on analog and digital free-space optical links operating in the near-infrared (NIR) (830nm, 1300nm and 1550nm) and mid-infrared (8μm). The measurements were made using well controlled atmospheric conditions in the 65ft long Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Aerosol Wind Tunnel Research Facility using water vapor, oil vapor and dust as the scattering media. We measured the transmitted intensity as a function of the density of scatterers in the tunnel. We also performed bit error rate analysis of signals transmitted at the DS-3 data rate. The QCL link consistently showed a higher performance level when compared to the NIR links for water fog, oil fog and dust scattering.

AB - We consider the application of mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength quantum cascade lasers (QCL) as sources for free-space optical communications. QCL's possess high modulation bandwidth and excellent optical performance in the atmospherically transparent MIR spectral range. In order to investigate this potential application area, we have performed a series of comparative evaluations on analog and digital free-space optical links operating in the near-infrared (NIR) (830nm, 1300nm and 1550nm) and mid-infrared (8μm). The measurements were made using well controlled atmospheric conditions in the 65ft long Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Aerosol Wind Tunnel Research Facility using water vapor, oil vapor and dust as the scattering media. We measured the transmitted intensity as a function of the density of scatterers in the tunnel. We also performed bit error rate analysis of signals transmitted at the DS-3 data rate. The QCL link consistently showed a higher performance level when compared to the NIR links for water fog, oil fog and dust scattering.

KW - Atmospheric optical propagation

KW - Infrared spectroscopy

KW - Optical communications

KW - Semiconductor lasers

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U2 - 10.1117/12.516517

DO - 10.1117/12.516517

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:4344631253

SN - 0277-786X

VL - 5359

SP - 196

EP - 202

JO - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

JF - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

T2 - Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices

Y2 - 25 January 2004 through 29 January 2004

ER -

Optical free-space communications at middle infra-red wavelengths

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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