NASA’s Deep Space Network and Plans for Deep Space Optical Communications
No abstract provided
Lichten, Stephen↗
SEARCH · Search NASA
Results for “optical networking”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Developing Data-Driven Artificial Neural Network for A High Throughput Retrieval of Aerosol Optical Depth and Surface Temperature of Mars
In this work, we aim to developartificial neural network(ANN)techniquesto reproduce the retrieval results ofphysical quantities from spacecraft observations of solar system bodiesusing radiative transfer methods. The particular application here is the retrieval of dust optical depth, water-ice optical depth, and surface temperatureonMarsusingdaytime observationsobtained by the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) onboard the Mars Global Surveyor.Compared against the results obtained from traditional radiative transfer retrieval techniques, our ANN successfully recoveredthe three quantitiesusingdaytime observations. The principal advantage of thesemachine learning(ML) algorithms istheir complete automation and highthroughput. Therefore, the algorithms presented here would be useful for very large datasets andwould make practical the sampling of many different approximations or boundary conditions related to a given observation dataset and retrieval problem.
Rafael Moreno↗
Design and Implementation of the Illinois Express Quantum Metropolitan Area Network
Not Available
42 ENGINEERING↗
Experimental Evaluation of Optically Polished Aluminum Panels on the Deep Space Network's 34 Meter Antenna
The potential development of large aperture ground?based "photon bucket" optical receivers for deep space communications has received considerable attention recently. One approach currently under investigation is to polish the aluminum reflector panels of 34?meter microwave antennas to high reflectance, and accept the relatively large spotsize generated by state of?the?art polished aluminum panels. Theoretical analyses of receiving antenna pointing, temporal synchronization and data detection have been addressed in previous papers. Here we describe the experimental effort currently underway at the Deep Space Network (DSN) Goldstone Communications Complex in California, to test and verify these concepts in a realistic operational environment. Two polished aluminum panels (a standard DSN panel polished to high reflectance, and a custom designed aluminum panel with much better surface quality) have been mounted on the 34 meter research antenna at Deep?Space Station 13 (DSS?13), and a remotely controlled CCD camera with a large CCD sensor in a weather?proof container has been installed next to the subreflector, pointed directly at the custom polished panel. The point?spread function (PSF) generated by the Vertex polished panel has been determined to be smaller than the sensor of the CCD camera, hence a detailed picture of the PSF can be obtained every few seconds, and the sensor array data processed to determine the center of the intensity distribution. In addition to estimating the center coordinates, expected communications performance can also been evaluated with the recorded data. The results of preliminary pointing experiments with the Vertex polished panel receiver using the planet Jupiter to simulate the PSF generated by a deep?space optical transmitter are presented and discussed in this paper.
optical receiver↗
IEEE 1393 Spaceborne Fiber Optic Data Bus: A Standard Approach to On-Board Payload Data Handling Networks for the AIAA Space Technology Conference and Exposition "Partnering in the 21th Century"
The Spaceborne Fiber Optic Data Bus (SFODB) is the next generation in on-board data handling networks. It will do for high speed payloads what SAE 1773 has done for on-board command and telemetry systems. That is, it will significantly reduce the cost of payload development, integration and test through interface standardization. As defined in IEEE 1393, SFODB is a 1 Gb/s, fiber optic network specifically designed to support the real-time, on-board data handling requirements of remote sensing spacecraft. The network is highly reliable, fault tolerant, and capable of withstanding the rigors of launch and the harsh space environment. SFODB achieves this operational and environmental performance while maintaining the small size, light weight, and low power necessary for spaceborne applications. SFODB was developed jointly by DoD and NASA GSFC to meet the on-board data handling needs of Remote Sensing satellites. This jointly funded project produced a complete set of flight transmitters, receivers and protocol ASICS; a complete Development & Evaluation System; and, the IEEE 1393 standard.
Andrucyk, Dennis J.↗
Current Status of NASA’s Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT) at Goddard Space Flight Center
This paper provides the status of ongoing work at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to build a low-cost flexible ground terminal for optical communication. For laser communication to be cost-effective for future missions, a global network of flexible optical terminals must be put in place. There is a need for a single ground terminal design capable of supporting multiple missions ranging from LEO to lunar distances. NASA’s Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT) has a single modular design that can be quickly reconfigured to support different laser communications missions. The LCOT prototype uses a 70cm commercially available telescope designed with optical and quantum communications in mind. This telescope is currently being integrated with a state-of-the-art adaptive optics system, and novel high-power laser amplifier demonstrate its utility as an optical communications receiver by receiving a downlink from the recently launched Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD). LCOT uses commercially available components wherever possible, and where commercial options are not available, the LCOT team works with vendors to create commercial options. This paper discusses the development progress for the blueprint of NASA’s future global ground terminal network.
Laser communications↗
Deep-Learning-Enabled Fast Optical Identification and Characterization of 2D Materials
Not provided.
Chemistry↗
Programmable photonic integrated meshes for modular generation of optical entanglement links
Abstract Large-scale generation of quantum entanglement between individually controllable qubits is at the core of quantum computing, communications, and sensing. Modular architectures of remotely-connected quantum technologies have been proposed for a variety of physical qubits, with demonstrations reported in atomic and all-photonic systems. However, an open challenge in these architectures lies in constructing high-speed and high-fidelity reconfigurable photonic networks for optically-heralded entanglement among target qubits. Here we introduce a programmable photonic integrated circuit (PIC), realized in a piezo-actuated silicon nitride (SiN)-in-oxide CMOS-compatible process, that implements an N × N Mach–Zehnder mesh (MZM) capable of high-speed execution of linear optical transformations. The visible-spectrum photonic integrated mesh is programmed to generate optical connectivity on up to N = 8 inputs for a range of optically-heralded entanglement protocols. In particular, we experimentally demonstrated optical connections between 16 independent pairwise mode couplings through the MZM, with optical transformation fidelities averaging 0.991 ± 0.0063. The PIC’s reconfigurable optical connectivity suffices for the production of 8-qubit resource states as building blocks of larger topological cluster states for quantum computing. Our programmable PIC platform enables the fast and scalable optical switching technology necessary for network-based quantum information processors.
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
Channel access schemes and fiber optic configurations for integrated-services local area networks
Local Area Networks are in common use for data communications and have enjoyed great success. Recently, there is a growing interest in using a single network to support many applications in addition to traditional data traffic. These additional applications introduce new requirements in terms of volume of traffic and real-time delivery of data which are not met by existing networks. To satisfy these requirements, a high-bandwidth tranmission medium, such as fiber optics, and a distributed channel access scheme for the efficient sharing of the bandwidth among the various applications are needed. As far as the throughput-delay requirements of the various application are concerned, a network structure along with a distributed channel access are proposed which incorporate appropriate scheduling policies for the transmission of outstanding messages on the network. A dynamic scheduling policy was devised which outperforms all existing policies in terms of minimizing the expected cost per message. A broadcast mechanism was devised for the efficient dissemination of all relevant information. Fiber optic technology is considered for the high-bandwidth transmisison medium.
Nassehi, M. Mehdi↗
Implementation of a High-Speed FPGA and DSP Based FFT Processor for Improving Strain Demodulation Performance in a Fiber-Optic-Based Sensing System
NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program is pursuing research in on-board Structural Health Management (SHM) technologies for purposes of reducing or eliminating aircraft accidents due to system and component failures. Under this program, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is developing a strain-based structural health-monitoring concept that incorporates a fiber optic-based measuring system for acquiring strain values. This fiber optic-based measuring system provides for the distribution of thousands of strain sensors embedded in a network of fiber optic cables. The resolution of strain value at each discrete sensor point requires a computationally demanding data reduction software process that, when hosted on a conventional processor, is not suitable for near real-time measurement. This report describes the development and integration of an alternative computing environment using dedicated computing hardware for performing the data reduction. Performance comparison between the existing and the hardware-based system is presented.
Farley, Douglas L.↗
Quantum teleportation coexisting with classical communications in optical fiber
The ability for quantum and conventional networks to operate in the same optical fibers would aid the deployment of quantum network technology on a large scale. Quantum teleportation is a fundamental operation in quantum networking, but has yet to be demonstrated in fibers populated with high-power conventional optical signals. Here we report, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of quantum teleportation over fibers carrying conventional telecommunications traffic. Quantum state transfer is achieved over a 30.2-km fiber carrying 400-Gbps C-band classical traffic with a Bell state measurement performed at the fiber’s midpoint. To protect quantum fidelity from spontaneous Raman scattering noise, we use optimal O-band quantum channels, narrow spectro-temporal filtering, and multi-photon coincidence detection. Fidelity is shown to be well maintained with an elevated C-band launch power of 18.7 dBm for the single-channel 400-Gbps signal, which we project could support multiple classical channels totaling many terabits/s aggregate data rates. These results show the feasibility of advanced quantum and classical network applications operating within a unified fiber infrastructure.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Implementation of a tactical voice/data network over FDDI
An asynchronous high-speed fiber-optic local-area network is described that simultaneously supports packet data traffic with synchronous TI voice traffic over a standard asynchronous FDDI (fiber distributed data interface) token-ring channel. A voice interface module was developed that parses, buffers, and resynchronizes the voice data to the packet network. The technique is general, however, and can be applied to any deterministic class of networks, including multitier backbones. In addition, the higher layer packet data protocols may operate independently of those for the voice, thereby permitting great flexibility in reconfiguring the network. Voice call setup and switching functions are performed external to the network with PABX equipment.
Bergman, L. A.↗
Advanced local area network concepts
Development of a good model of the data traffic requirements for Local Area Networks (LANs) onboard the Space Station is the driving problem in this work. A parameterized workload model is under development. An analysis contract has been started specifically to capture the distributed processing requirements for the Space Station and then to develop a top level model to simulate how various processing scenarios can handle the workload and what data communication patterns result. A summary of the Local Area Network Extendsible Simulator 2 Requirements Specification and excerpts from a grant report on the topological design of fiber optic local area networks with application to Expressnet are given.
Grant, Terry↗
New Constraints on Simultaneous Optical Emission from Gamma-Ray Bursts Measured by the Livermore Optical Transient Imaging System Experiment
LOTIS is a gamma-ray burst optical counterpart search experiment located near Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Since operations began in 1996 October, LOTIS has responded to five triggers as of 1997 July 30, which occurred during good weather conditions. GR-B 970223 (BATSE trigger 6100) was an exceptionally strong burst, lasting approx. 30 s with a peak at approx. 8 s. LOTIS began imaging the error box approx. 11 s after the burst began and achieved simultaneous optical coverage of 100% of the region enclosed by the BATSE 3 sigma error circle and the interplanetary network annulus. No optical transients were observed brighter than the m{}_{V} approx.11 completeness limit of the resulting images, providing a new upper limit on the ratio of simultaneous optical to gamma-ray fluence of R-{L) less than 1.1 x 10 logical and {-4} and on the ratio of simultaneous optical (at 700 mn) to gamma-ray (at 100 keV) flux density of R-{F} less than 305 for a B-type spectrum and R-{F} less than 475 for an M-type spectrum.
Park, H. S.↗
Spatial Distribution of Aerosol Microphysical and Optical Properties and Direct Radiative Effect from the China Aerosol Remote Sensing Network
Multi-year observations of aerosol microphysical and optical properties, obtained through ground-based remote sensing at 50 China Aerosol Remote Sensing Network (CARSNET) sites, were used to characterize the aerosol climatology for representative remote, rural, and urban areas over China to assess effects on climate. The annual mean effective radii for total particles (ReffT) decreased from north to south and from rural to urban sites, and high total particle volumes were found at the urban sites. The aerosol optical depth at 440 nm (AOD440 nm) increased from remote and rural sites (0.12) to urban sites (0.79), and the extinction Ångström exponent (EAE440–870 nm) increased from 0.71 at the arid and semi-arid sites to 1.15 at the urban sites, presumably due to anthropogenic emissions. Single-scattering albedo (SSA440 nm) ranged from 0.88 to 0.92, indicating slightly to strongly absorbing aerosols. Absorption AOD440 nm values were 0.01 at the remote sites versus 0.07 at the urban sites. The average direct aerosol radiative effect (DARE) at the bottom of atmosphere increased from the sites in the remote areas (−24.40 W m−2) to the urban areas (−103.28 W m−2), indicating increased cooling at the latter. The DARE for the top of the atmosphere increased from −4.79 W m−2 at the remote sites to −30.05 W m−2 at the urban sites, indicating overall cooling effects for the Earth–atmosphere system. A classification method based on SSA440 nm, fine-mode fraction (FMF), and EAE440–870 nm showed that coarse-mode particles (mainly dust) were dominant at the rural sites near the northwestern deserts, while light-absorbing, fine-mode particles were important at most urban sites. This study will be important for understanding aerosol climate effects and regional environmental pollution, and the results will provide useful information for satellite validation and the improvement of climate modelling.
Huizheng Che↗
Decoding THz‐Driven Dynamic Fingerprints of Ferroelectric Nanotwin Networks
Ultrafast polarization dynamics in ferroelectrics are of considerable interest for high-speed tunable dielectrics and electro-optics. Extended domain wall networks formed in ferroelectric twin nanodomains can support collective dynamics in the terahertz regime but require techniques that track polarization and strain evolution driven by ultrafast stimulus. Here, we use multi-modal probing of THz-pulse-driven excitations in PbTiO 3 /SrTiO 3 superlattices by combining X-ray free electron laser measurements that directly tracks lattice changes, with optical second harmonic generation that tracks the electronic potential coupled with the lattice potential. Dynamical phase-field modeling enables fingerprinting of these collective modes as superpositions of domain “breathing” through wall oscillations and polarization “rotations” with still walls. Ultrafast domain wall motion at 0.1–0.5 THz is observed at practical fields of 100 kV/cm with wall velocities of >4000 m/s, approaching typical speed of sound in PbTiO 3 . A unique “charging” mode is discovered that can electrically charge and discharge domain walls on ∼4 ps time scale thus dynamically tuning wall conductivity. Integrated experimental and theoretical fingerprinting of the dynamical landscape presented here enables ultrafast control of ferroics for high-speed microelectronics and optical applications.
THz dynamics↗
Application of machine learning for the estimation of electron energy distribution from optical emission spectra
Abstract This paper discusses the use of probabilistic deep neural networks for the prediction of the electron energy probability function in low-temperature non-thermal plasmas. The neural networks are trained using optical emission spectroscopy and Langmuir probe measurements, with the goal of providing a reliable estimate of the electron energy probability function solely from optical emission data. The performance of both non-Bayesian and Bayesian networks is evaluated. It is found that Bayesian models are preferable as they assign a higher level of uncertainty to their prediction especially when the dataset used to train them is small. This work describes one of the many potential applications of machine learning in plasma science and technology.
Physics↗
Development of a Deployable Opitcal Aperature
The Deployable Optical Receive Aperture (DORA),a new technology being developed jointly between JetPropulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Arizona State University(ASU), is based on deploying arrays of fast optical detectors tocreate large receive apertures and seeks to achieve gigabitconnectivity at distances of thousands of kilometers. Smallspacecraft forming the LunaNet communications network andequipped with optical communications systems, such as theproposed DORA aperture, should be able to communicate atGigabit per second rates over long distances. This data rateenhancement can allow gigabit per second connectivitybetween lunar assets (astronauts, rovers, instruments) and thelunar gateway. Under sponsorship of NASA's Small SpacecraftTechnology Program (SSTP), JPL is deploying the DORApayload and ASU is developing a 3U CubeSat for a follow-onlow-Earth-orbit (LEO) mission to demonstrate DORA'scapabilities. The basic DORA payload consists of 5 receiverpanels, a transmitting telescope and processing units. Eachreceiver panel contains dozens of power-combined detectors tomimic a large optical aperture. The total receive aperture ofDORA is provided by the sum of the effective detecting area ofthe 5 panels. The transmit telescope includes a 200mW, 850nmlaser and a voice-coil fast steering mirror (FSM). The resultingDORA terminal should be able to provide duplex connectivityat rates up to 1 gigabit per second at the distances of interest.We have designed the entire DORA payload and plan topresent the test results of our DORA engineering model. Theseresults include angle-of-arrival, data rate and bit error ratemeasurements.
Yi, Lin↗