Ultrawide Bandwidth Communication System for Mobile Platforms

"Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is seeking a new type of all weather communication system, potentially non-RF, to carry data between mobile platforms. Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a novel Ultra-wide Band Laser Communication(UBLC), as a new full scale laser communication system, which will integrate laser communication, optoelectronics, gimbal mechanics, processing software, hardware, and high speed data interfaces. UBLC uniquely integrates technology that POC has alreadydeveloped in laser optoelectronics, laser communication hardware, and video/imagery communication. POC's compact multiple LD source and collimator/concentrator have regulated divergence for continuous high bandwidth (more than 1 GHz) communication. UBLC'soptical power budget (100 mW of continuous laser power) at an invisible eye-safe wavelength of 1.55 micrometers allows for line?of?sight (LOS) 5 km communication even through fog. All UBLC critical components will be designed, tested, and analyzed in thecourse of a six month Phase I project. A preliminary feasibility demonstration will also be explored in Phase I, and a full-scale system demonstration on mobile platforms will be ready at the end of Phase II. Key advantages of the UBLC system stem from itscompact design, based on a lightweight laser transceiver with a multiple laser diode (LD) source that replaces a bulky Nd:YAG laser source. The UBLC system will open new possibilities for