JPL deep space optical communication's uplink data analysis

Abstract

The JPL Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology demonstration has validated a first of a kind system for long range free space optical communication. The ground laser transmitter (GLT) of DSOC system is located in the coudé room of the 1m telescope at Optical Communication Telescope Laboratory, Table Mountain Facility (TMF), CA. The DSOC flight laser transceiver is a hosted payload on the Psyche Mission Spacecraft. The GLT system consists of an Uplink Laser Assembly (ULA) with 10 identical kW class laser transmitters at 1064nm. An uplink data formatter provides the ULA modulation signal format in a 2-PPM scheme (2 signal slots, 2 guard slots, 65 usec slot width) and is transmitted back via the downlink. In this work we analyze the uplink 2-PPM data where the count probability density functions (pdf) under various turbulence conditions are compared with the analytical pdfs. Furthermore, the temporal power spectrum of uplink intensity shows a signature two-slope profile and is compared with the developed theory.