All articles tagged with #optical communication
NASA's deep space optical communication demo, managed by JPL, successfully transmitted high-definition video from over 19 million miles away and set distance records, demonstrating the potential for high-data-rate communication for future solar system missions.
A German satellite successfully transmitted a laser signal to a ground station mounted on a Jeep, marking a significant advancement in space-to-Earth communication. This breakthrough, led by researchers from the University of Western Australia, aims to alleviate data congestion and increase communication bandwidth by using optical communication instead of traditional radio waves. The test is a critical step towards establishing a next-generation space communications network.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Nokia Bell Labs have developed a compact, 3D-printed microscale photonic lantern that enables efficient spatial mode multiplexing for optical communication and imaging applications. This breakthrough device, fabricated using direct laser writing and two-photon polymerization, offers low insertion loss and high integration potential, marking a significant advancement in photonic technology.
Scientists have developed a method to transfer spin information from electrons to photons using electrical pulses, enabling the transmission of polarized light signals over long distances at high speeds. This breakthrough in spintronics meets crucial criteria for practical applications and could revolutionize optical telecommunications, potentially enabling rapid communication between Earth and Mars, as well as advancing technologies such as optical quantum communication, neuromorphic computing, and ultrafast optical transmitters.
NASA's experimental hybrid antenna at the Deep Space Network has successfully tracked and decoded the downlink laser from the Psyche spacecraft, demonstrating the potential for retrofitting giant dish antennas for optical communications. This breakthrough paves the way for higher-data-rate communications and supports future space exploration capabilities, including sending humans to Mars. The antenna's ability to receive both radio frequency and near-infrared laser signals marks a significant advancement in deep space communication technology.
Researchers have developed a hybrid wafer stack combining lithium niobate (LiNbO3) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) that allows for fast frequency tuning and modulation stability in lasers. The hybrid chip utilizes microresonator structures to achieve laser self-injection locking and voltage-controlled frequency tuning. The study demonstrates the successful application of the hybrid circuit in LiDAR technology and highlights the potential of thin-film LiNbO3 structures in photonics.