Coherent combining of low-power optical signals based on optically amplified error feedback

• In free-space optical communication links, the combining of optical signals from multiple apertures is a well-known method to collect more power for improved sensitivity or mitigation of atmospheric disturbances. However, for analog optical combining no detailed analysis has been made in cases when the optical signal power is very low (<-60 dBm) as would be the case in very long-haul free-space links. We present a theoretical and experimental study of analog coherent combining of noise-limited signals from multiple independent apertures by applying low frequency optical phase dithering to actively compensate the relative phases. It is experimentally demonstrated that a 97% combining efficiency of four 10 GBaud QPSK signals is possible with a signal power per aperture exceeding -80 dBm, in fair agreement with theory. We also discuss the scaling aspects to many apertures.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Telekommunikation (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Telecommunications (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Signalbehandling (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Signal Processing (hsv//eng)

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