Free-space gigabit laser link experiment incorporating Japanese and Canadian technology development

This paper presents the results of the technology demonstration of a short distance free-space optical (FSO) communication link with 2.5 Gbps data rate. Each terminal consists of a gimbaled telescope, an acquisition and coarse tracking CCD and digital control system, a fine tracking system, a fiber-optic interface, transceivers, beacon lasers, and a bit error test set. Two different fine-tracking subsystems were set-up on these two terminals: the first one is based on a micro mechanical steering mirror developed at NICT, Japan; while the second is based on liquid crystal (nonlinear spatial light modulation mechanism), developed at CSA, Canada. Performance of the two systems, their compatibility and the future work are discussed.