High-Gain, Wavelength-Agile Compact Coherent and Direct-Detection Receiver for High-Bandwidth Laser Communications

Aerius Photonics proposes a new wavelength tunable, optically preamplified receiver called the MEMS Tunable Vertical Cavity Amplified Detector (MT-VCAD). The MT-VCAD is a compact hybrid semiconductor chip device that utilizes an integrated MEMS mirror in conjunction with an amplifying semiconductor resonant cavity and a hybrid PIN detector to selectively amplify and detect different wavelengths of light. Unlike APDs, whose gain and noise figure suffer at higher data rates, the MT-VCAD maintains high gain (>100x) at high data rates (10 to 40 Gb/s), thus enabling satellites to communicate over longer distances and at 10’s of gigabits per second. The MT-VCAD is compatible with coherent and direct detection operation. The MT-VCAD receiver inherently accepts and amplifies only a narrow wavelength band (0.1 nm), reflecting other bands, and is able to change this wavelength in microseconds. Therefore the proposed tunable receiver, with a tunable transmitter, can rapidly change wavelength and eliminate any attempts to jam or damage the detectors either by wideband illumination or by narrowband lasers. Wavelength tunability also enables compact wavelength division multiplexed systems. In Phase I Aerius Photonics will demonstrate device functionality with a breadboard prototype and in Phase II Aerius will deliver a fully functional brassboard prototype receiver.