Sodium laser guide star (LGS) enabled adaptive optics (LGS-AO) is an indispensable tool in modern, state-of-the-art ground-based astronomy. The fully engineered SodiumStar 20/2 product line by TOPTICA PROJECTS (PRO) has been adopted by all major observatories. It has revolutionized LGS-AO, facilitating telescope operators to offer it on a night-to-night on-demand basis.
In this project, we have significantly improved the technology to facilitate novel use cases other than astronomy. These include free-space optical satellite communications, as basis for a worldwide space-based internet backbone, deep-space communications, and high-resolution, high-reach optical Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST). This next-generation LGS-AO technology will push the capacity of optical ground-to-satellite communications links towards terabit-per-second levels, enable optical quantum communications into space, and will be a prerequisite for optical SST ground stations providing the highest spatial resolution.
Worldwide, SST and space traffic monitoring are of increasing concern due to the sudden and fast increase in space traffic and population. The need for supervision of vehicle launches and their early orbit phases, for verification of spacecraft deployment and tracks, and the critical fight against space debris, are urgently calling for new technology developments. Optical sensing is a promising and versatile approach for space traffic and debris observation. Even with optical technology, the required spatial resolution for small objects in high altitudes can only be achieved using telescopes equipped with AO and artificial LGS. As LGS world market leader, PRO started migrating its successful LGS system technology used in cutting-edge astronomical applications towards compact daylight-ready LGS systems for SST.
The OpticalSpaceLink funding enables PRO to penetrate new markets. It is also helping to navigate Europe's photonic space industry through a demanding market situation, enabling a worldwide pole position in optical SST and further applications. In a next step, diffraction-limited optical access from earth to space will become a prerequisite for free-space optical communications to satellites for next-generation constellation-based space internet backbones and, thus, help to connect the unconnected half of the world population.
