Addressing the rising demand for laser-based, high-bandwidth data transfer between telescopes and satellites, yellow laser technology is becoming more accessible to smaller telescopes. This will lead to high-bandwidth data transfer in more applications.
Vexlum has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to enable more telescopes to use high-bandwidth optical communication between the Earth and orbiting satellites. Based on a vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL)-driven adaptive optics system, these yellow lasers will make it possible for a larger number of telescopes to communicate large datasets, such as hyperspectral images, in near real-time.
Adaptive optics are currently used by large telescopes that have the space and budget for it. Vexlum’s technology takes on the key challenges of space-to-ground optical links, including turbulent air currents and the slower transfer speeds of radio waves for applications such as hyperspectral imaging for monitoring wildfires, floods, and ecosystems. It also addresses higher-precision tracking of satellites and space debris to enable trajectory corrections and collision avoidance.
The effort will initially focus on developing and prototyping a new laser system that can generate an artificial guide star in the atmosphere, enabling telescopes to precisely measure and correct for atmospheric distortions. This will ensure that high-speed laser links remain stable and efficient.
The compact size of Vexlum’s lasers makes the technology more accessible for use by smaller telescopes and observatories around the world with smaller budgets, reducing the cost of yellow lasers by up to 50%.
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