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
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
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4344631253&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=4344631253&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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 -