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Development of a Novel Receiver for Coherent Communications
Completed
TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)
Description
Adaptive optics directly measure the phase of the incoming light and move the optical elements physically to compensate for this distortion. Our task from the FY22 CIF program was to demonstrate that it is unnecessary to physically change the phase, rather, the phase can simply be measured and accounted for in computational post-processing, which calculates the total phase distortion of the system. In this program, we continue development toward a tech demo system for coherent communications.
Benefits
A system that can compensate for the phase through post-processing rather than in real space (as in adaptive optics) may be significantly cheaper and allow for larger telescopes.
Details
| Technology area | Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems > Optical Communications |
| Program | Center Innovation Fund: GSFC CIF (GSFC CIF) |
| Lead organization | Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD |
| Start date | 2022-10-01 |
| End date | 2023-09-30 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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