Modular coherent photonic-aided payload receiver for communications satellites

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Satellite Communications
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Satellite communications are vital for bridging the digital divide, requiring performance parity with fiber optics in bandwidth and cost.
• Next-generation satellite payloads need large-scale processors for dynamic beam allocation and terabit-per-second capacity.
• Photonics is key for implementing these processors due to its scalability with signal wavelength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a coherent photonic-aided receiver.
• To address the challenge of maintaining signal coherency in modular, large-scale photonic payloads.
• To validate the feasibility of modular and coherent photonic payloads for advanced satellite communications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel coherent photonic-aided receiver architecture.
• Integration of photonic components for signal processing and beamforming.
• Testing of the receiver's ability to preserve signal coherency in a modular setup.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of a coherent photonic-aided receiver.
• Validation of a modular approach for photonic payloads.
• Preservation of signal coherency using a simplified method within the photonic receiver.

Conclusions:

• A modular and coherent photonic-aided payload is feasible for next-generation satellite communications.
• This advancement facilitates the extensive introduction of photonics in satellite technology.
• The developed receiver supports the mission of ubiquitous satellite services matching fiber optic capabilities.