Optical Transceiver Platform For Laser Communication Experiments

This paper describes a laser communication (lasercom) transceiver platform to be used for laboratory experiments. The platform features a directly modulated semiconductor laser, avalanche photodiode receiver, and microprocessor controlled acquisition and tracking system. The platform provides a test-bed, enabling study in vital areas of lasercom hardware such as system performance versus link distance, optical power, tracking accuracy, and sub-system and component characterization for future system specifications, including critical areas limiting present system performance.