Project description DEENESFRITPL Boosting receiver sensitivity for free-space optical communications Free-space optical communications use light propagating in free space to wirelessly transmit data. The technology can be used for communication over short and long distances, for example between spacecraft or satellites. However, the technology sensitivity is limited by diffraction, which causes a free-space beam to divert as it travels from the transmitter to the receiver. The EU-funded FREESPACE project aims to overcome this drawback by adding a noiseless optical amplifier to the receiver. This technique is expected to extend transmission reach by 40 %, reduce the aperture size of the optics at the transmitter and receiver and increase communication system capacity. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Free-space optical communication links provide higher capacity and smaller beam divergence than their radio-frequency counterpart, and are increasingly being used for relatively short links often established for temporary purposes (e.g. outdoor sporting and concert events). They are also explored for extremely long reaches (e.g. between satellites, to the moon and beyond). In both cases, the sensitivity is fundamentally limited by the effect of diffraction, which results in the divergence of a free-space beam as it travels from the transmitter to the receiver. As there are practical limits on the size of the aperture permitted at both the transmitter and receiver, the diffraction results in a signal loss that limits the capacity and reach of the link. Our approach, which is to implement a unique noiseless optical amplifier in the receiver, is expected to result in a 40% transmission reach extension, or for a given reach target, reduce the aperture size of the optics (significant cost reduction) and increase the capacity. Our technique will help enable the transition from radio-frequency links to lightwave based links as it add significant performance benefits to the latter approach. We wish to use our new knowledge and expertise from our recent ERC AdG project to demonstrate, verify, and explore the commercial prospects of FSO transmission using phase-sensitive amplifiers in the receiver to improve the sensitivity, thus maximizing the possible link power budget, beyond what is possible with today’s approaches. We will work on market evaluation, technology verification, and commercialization strategy with the support from the Chalmers innovation office on our campus which has expertize on commercialization in the early stage. A goal of this project is to reach an agreement with commercial and/or institutional entities to pursue a field test of the PSA-based FSO technology. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunications Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2018-PoC - ERC Proof of Concept Grant Call for proposal ERC-2018-PoC See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant Coordinator CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address - 412 96 Goteborg Sweden See on map Region Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB Sweden Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address - 412 96 Goteborg See on map Region Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
