ClearStar™ LC
Groundbreaking adaptive optics solutions for ground-to-space laser communications.
HartSCI’s unique adaptive optics technology is applied to the challenge of free space optical communications in our ClearStar™ LC product. Designed to operate in the standard C and L bands, and implemented in the downlink beam, ClearStar™ LC is demonstrated to enhance signal coupling into a single-mode fiber by upwards of 10 dB with minimal insertion loss of less than 1 dB. ClearStar™ LC also comes with an uplink beam launch system, comprising one or more separately mounted projectors which actively track the satellite on orbit while at the same time accounting for the required point-ahead angle.
Features of ClearStar™ LC
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Operates in standard 1530 – 1630 nm telecom bands
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Mates natively to PlaneWave RC700 telescope
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Fully automated PAT sequence using standard TLEs eliminates all human interaction
- Configurable for A/B switching
- May be configured to support polarization encoding
- Full-featured software API based on simple text commands supports integration into larger C2 architecture
ClearStar™ LC Specifications
Receive
| PARAMETER | VALUE |
| Operating waveband | 1530 – 1630 nm |
| Minimum signal at OGT aperture for acquisition | -85 dBW/m2 |
| Gain compared to no AO at zenith for HV3/5 atmosphere | 10.3 dB |
| AO system insertion loss | -0.9 dB |
| Wavefront sensor type | Shack-Hartmann |
| Wavefront sensor subaperture count | 10 x 10 |
| Wavefront sensing beacon | Signal beam |
| Fractional beam split to wavefront sensor | 1% |
| AO correction speed | Up to 3600 updates/second |
| Deformable mirror actuator count | 97 |
| Tracking and jitter control | Separate fast steering mirror |
| Full-stroke tilt control | ± 0.6 mrad |
| Residual jitter with control loop closed | <1 μrad |
| Acquisition FOV | 2 mrad |
| Receive polarization | Any |
| Optical output | Single-mode fiber |
| Weight | 72 kg |
Transmit
| PARAMETER | VALUE |
| Collimated beam divergence (full angle) | 15 μrad |
| Beam broadening | 200 μrad |
| Time to switch between collimated and broad beam | < 1 sec |
| Beam spiral radius | 5 mrad |
| Optical loss (including truncation loss) | -1.7 dB |
| Input polarization | Agnostic |
| Boresight to Rx | < 1 μrad (mean) |
| Laser power handling (max) | 100 W |
| Weight | 27 kg |
Electronics
| PARAMETER | VALUE |
| Line power | 110 – 240 V AC 50/60 Hz |
| Typical power draw | 170 W |
| Maximum power draw (all alignment/calibration motors running) | 290 W |
| Weight | 45 kg |