Diffractive optics for advanced free space laser communication terminals

The design of first generation free space laser communication systems is based upon laser diodes with output powers in the order of 100 mW. For system with high data rate transmission (in the order of 100 Mbit/sec) this leads to terminals with rather large transmit/receive telescope diameters and, consequently, to high terminal mass and dimensions. The recent developments in laser diode technology made it possible to strongly increase the available laser output power. The use of such high power laser diodes together with advanced optical technologies, like diffractive optics, is very attractive for the development of next generation optical communication terminals because it allows to reduce terminal mass and dimensions considerably. The application potential of diffractive optics for advanced optical terminal design is discussed. Elements of a miniaturized optical terminal are presented as examples