Electronic wavefront correction for free-space optical communications

摘要

Systems and methods of electronic wavefront correction are disclosed. An example method receiving an optical signal representing a wavefront traveling along a plurality of propagation paths, and electronically correcting distortion in the wavefront. An example apparatus includes an receiver and an electronic wavefront corrector. The receiver is configured to coherently receive an optical signal representing a wavefront traveling along a plurality of propagation paths. The electronic wavefront corrector is configured to correct phase distortion in the wavefront.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving single optical signal representing a wavefront traveling along a plurality of propagation paths through free space, wherein the single optical signal is received at a balanced photodetector array; and electronically removing phase error in the received single optical signal that is a result of the travel through free space by:
obtaining a complex field for each propagation path of the single optical signal, the complex field comprising an I phase element and a Q phase element corresponding to each propagation path;determining, for each propagation path of the single optical signal, an estimated phase error directly from the I phase element and the Q phase element for the propagation path, wherein the estimated phase error is determined relative to another one of the propagation paths;combining the I phase element and the Q phase element of each of the propagation paths to obtain a recovered electrical signal for each propagation path; andcoherently summing the recovered electrical signal from each propagation path after removing the corresponding phase error.