Wave-front distortion and its effect on inter-satellite laser communication systems

Liying Tan, Wanqing Xie*, Jing Ma, Qiwen Ran, Jin Zhu
Yanping Zhou, Siyuan Yu, Qiqi Han Department of Automation
Harbin Institute of Technology University of science and technology of China
National Key Laboratory of Tunable Laser Technology Hefei, China
Harbin, China jinzhu@ustc.edu.cn
*e-mail: wanqing.xie820117@gmail.com

Abstract—Wavelet model is built to depict the diversified wave-
front distortion. Compared to Gaussian model, the effect on
pointing error is analyzed. For it is difficult to detect the wave-
front distortion to the receiver, especially for long distance, a
near field center power measurement method is proposed.
Keyword:wavelet,wave-front distortion, inte-rsatellit laser
communications
I. INTRODUCTION
With the advantages of smaller size and weight of the
terminal, less power consumptions, greater immunity to
interference, larger data rate, and denser satellite orbit
population comparing to microwave communications, more
and more studies focus on inter-satellite laser
communications for its potential commercial and military
applications. Small beam divergence and the ultra-long
distance of the link require high precision system, for
example, the point error in the transmitter’s line of sight can
have a significant effect on the performance of the link [1-
3]. The distortion of the optical devices can cause wave-
front aberrations which can change the far-field intensity
distribution and bring on transmitting errors. There are two
main factors leading to optical devices distortion. One is the
process technology for optical antenna which is difficult
especially for that with large aperture to be processed to the
precision of 0.01λ [4]. The other factor is the spatial
environments, which includes space radiation,
contamination, and temperature variation. Temperature
variation is a strong influence factor on optical properties
which can cause the variation of the reflective index, the
variation of the curvature of the lens surface, the variation of
the thickness of the lens and the variation in the gap
between lenses [5].
To the analysis of wave-front aberration, most of the
Zernike polynomials can be met over the annular region. To
extend the research, modified Zernike polynomials were
studied by Sun et al. in 2005[6]. Almost all the wave-front
aberrations in the optical system can be represented by
Zernike polynomials [7], but complicated calculation must
be paid. To simplify the analysis, an ellipse Gaussian model
was built by Yang et al. to represent the localized
deformation of wave-front [8].
To the actual situation of inter-satellite laser
communications, in the first place, the wave-front aberration
is not as ideal and as simple as the Gaussian model. So in
this paper, a wavelet model is proposed to represent the
wave-front distortion. Compared with Yang’s work, it is a
more realistic and flexible model, no matter how large the
deformation is, whether there is ellipse Gaussian or not, and
local area or not. The wavelet model can represent almost all
the wave-front aberrations in the optical system as Zernike
polynomials, but no need of large amount of calculation [9].
The similarities and differences compared with Gaussian
model are shown. In the second place, it is hard to know how
the wave-front changes, even only on the transmitter. With
the blind wave front aberration, we built the relation between
the near field result and the far field result. With this relation
we can find out the effect of the distortion on inter-satellite
laser communication system and easily get which part of the
link caused the distortion.
II. WAVELET MODEL
Wavelet, just as its name implies, is a small wave, which
generates and attenuates in a limited time period. Any
wavelet contains the zero integral value and square-
integrality
∞
∫
−∞
ψ ( x)dx = 0
(1)
∞
∫ ψ ( x)dx = 1
2

researches focus on a known wave front distortion or a built −∞

model. For instance, in 2001, Toyoshima et al. investigated The admissible condition of wavelet is,
2
mutual alignment errors using Zernike polynomials in a ∞ Ψ( f )
circle region and analyzed the mutual alignment error Cψ ≡ ∫ df 0< Cψ < ∞ (2)
between the transmitted and received optical axes [5]. 0 f
However, the optical antenna for satellite laser where
communication systems regularly encounters centrally ∞
obscured pupils, such as in the case of a Cassegrain Ψ（ f ） ≡ ∫ ψ( u) e- i 2π f udu (3)
-∞
telescope system. In this case no orthogonally property of

978-1-4244-5513-3/10/$26.00 ©2010 IEEE 240

Authorized licensed use limited to: Escuela Superior de Ingeneria Mecanica. Downloaded on July 19,2023 at 02:05:22 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 To any (a, b) , in which a , b are real numbers, and a Similar to the parameters of wavelet function stand for,
must be non-zero real number, the function as follow is b, d means the location of S ' ( x0 , y0 ) , J × J stands for
called wavelet function.
hJ ;b ,d can change the depth of
the area of the distortion, and
1 x −b
ψ ( a ,b ) ( x ) = ψ( ) (4) the model which is written as h hereafter for short.
a a
Different patterns of aberrations can choose different φ for
in which ψ ( x ) is called as the mother wavelet, b can
flexibility.
change the location where the wavelet is and a can change Compare to Gaussian model, Db3 wavelet is selected as
the scale of the wavelet. an example to build the wavelet wave-front aberration
In the energy limited space, any function can be model. To the Gaussian model, only one direction of the
depicted by wavelet. Thus, a wavelet wave-front aberration distortion is shown, but the Db3 model can express the
model S ( x0 , y0 ) can be built as distortion in two sides of the plane wave at the same time.
S ( x0 , y0 ) = ∑ ∑ α a;b ,dψ a;b ,d ( x0 , y0 ) The new model is asymmetry with small detail changes on
a (b ,d )
(5) the border line which is much closer to the actual situation.
J +∞
The two models are shown in Fig. 1.
= ∑ ∑α ψ a;b ,d ( x0 , y0 ) + ∑ ∑ α a;b ,dψ a;b ,d ( x0 , y0 )
a ;b ,d
a =−∞ ( b , d ) a = J (b ,d ) The relationship between the distortion model and the
J
phase change is:
= ∑ ∑α ψ a;b ,d ( x0 , y0 ) + ∑ hJ ;b ,d φJ ;b ,d ( x0 , y0 )
a ;b ,d
a =−∞ ( b , d ) (b,d )
h
in which φJ ;b ,d ( x0 , y0 ) is called the scale function, it can Φ( x0 , y0 ) = 2π φJ ;b,d ( x0 , y0 ) (7)
λ
depict the contour in scale J , and thus, the first part with in which, λ is the wavelength.
wavelet function depicts the aberration in each detail level. Generally, there are two kinds of optical antenna, that is,
The first part in the right side of the equation depicts the the reflection type and the transmission type, used for inter-
aberration in a coarse level. The two parts together compose satellite laser communication. Only the reflection optical
the whole aberration. antenna is analyzed in the paper, because the method can be
The main point discussed in the paper is the non- easily used in the other type of antenna.
Gaussian, more general wave-front distortion, so the detail The phase change for reflection optical antenna brought
differences part is neglected. Now, the wave-front by the distortion model is as follows:
aberration is approximated as the linear combination of the h
scale function. To simplify the model, only one set of the Φ ref ( x0 , y0 ) = 2Φ ( x0 , y0 ) = 4π φJ ;b,d ( x0 , y0 ) (8)
basis is chosen as the wavelet model of wave-front λ
distortion. In the paper, S ' ( x0 , y0 ) is used to depict the
distortion model.
S ' ( x0 , y0 ) = hJ ;b ,d φJ ;b ,d ( x0 , y0 ) (6)

Fig.1 Gaussian model and wavelet model

Authorized licensed use limited to: Escuela Superior de Ingeneria Mecanica. 241
Downloaded on July 19,2023 at 02:05:22 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.

III. POINTING ERROE ANALYSIS BASED ON WAVELET
DISTORTION MODEL
U aberr ,ref ( x, y ) = ∫∫ U 0 ( x0 , y0 ) M 1 ( x0 , y0 ) exp[−
⎧ x − b y0 − d
⎪ 2 2
4π * h * φ ( 0
⎪C exp[− x0 + y0 ]exp[ − jk ( x x + y y )]exp[ j
= ⎨ ∫∫
0 0
ω02 zf
⎪
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
M 1 ( x0 , y0 ) is the aperture function. r1 and r2 are the
radius of the primary mirror and the secondary mirror of the
reflection optical antenna respectively. The diameter of
primary mirror is 0.25m. z f is the distance between the
transmitter and the receiver. To the inter-satellite laser
communication system, z f is equal to 500km for the
numerical analysis. To the near field measurement,
equal to 10m.
The optical intensity on the receiving plane is:
I aberr ( x, y ) = U aberr ( x, y )
2
If there is no wave-front aberration, the peak value of
optical intensity on the receiving plane is at the central
point. If the wave-front aberration appears in the transmitter,
the peak value may move to another point. The angle
between the two points is called as the pointing error. The
proposed wavelet model with Db3 wavelet is employed to
obtain the distorted wave-front on the receiving plane. The
result is shown in Fig.2. The left figure is the light intensity
distribution without any distortion on the receiving plane
and the right figure is the light intensity distribution with
wavelet modeled distortion.
It is obvious that with the distortion, the intensity
distribution changed. So, when the distortion exists in the
transmitter, the central value on the receiving plane will
change, and the pointing error θ will appear [8].
IV. NUMERICAL RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
To study the effect of a general wave-front aberration on
the system, the two models mentioned above is employed.
I/W I/W
m m m m
Fig.2 the light intensity on the receiving plane
with and without distortion
Authorized licensed use limited to: Escuela Superior de Ingeneria Mecanica. Downloaded on July 19,2023 at 02:05:22 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
To the receiver, the optical field of the distortion wave-
front can be expressed in (9).
jk
( x0 x + y0 y )]exp[ jΦ ref ( x0 , y0 )]dx0 dy0
zf
(9)
, )
aJ aJ
2 2
]dx0 dy0 r2 ≤ x + y ≤ r1
0 0
λ
The relation between the pointing error and different
parameters of the distortion- area and depth is studied. The
numerical results are in Fig. 3.
The coordinate axis with the value 0~3 stands for the
depth of the distortion, the axis with the value 0~0.1 stands
for J , and J × J is the area of the distortion on the optical
lens. The vertical axis stands for pointing error. With the
scale becomes bigger and bigger, the pointing error increase
z f is for Gaussian and non-Gaussian models. But to the depth
changes to each model, the variation is not the same. To the
Gaussian model, the periodic is caused by the special shape.
(10) But to the non-regular shape distortion, no periodic appears.
This is because with a given J in the deformation area,
pointing error changes periodically with the increase of the
depth at each point. But the trend of θ depends on the sum
of the affect of each point of the whole deformation.
Because the scale function of Db3 wavelet is not a constant,
nor a periodic function, with the increase of the depth, the
periodic regularity of θ can not exist. The regularity of
Gaussian model is caused by the well approximation of the
root mean square value.
To the real system, the wave-front aberration is blind.
The wave-front distortion may appear at any time. The
optical intensity on the receiving plane is not easy to be
detected directly. The distortion will affect the light intensity
distribution on the receiving plane, and the power of the
system output will be influenced. The bit error rate can be
brought up to the system.
θ/rad θ/rad
aJ/m h/λ aJ/m h/λ
Fig.3 dependence of pointing error on the depth and the
area of the distortion
242
 In this case, a method to detect how the wave-front
aberration affects the far field optical wave-front is urgently
needed. According to Fresnel diffraction theory, the near
field and far field diffraction characteristic can be obtained.
To the receiver, for near field or far field, the attenuation
factor of the power caused by the wave-front aberration is:
I aberr ( xc , yc )
α = 1− (11)
I 0 ( xc , yc )
( xc , yc ) is the central point on the receiving plane. I 0 is the
light intensity distribution without any wave-front
distortion. I aberr is the light intensity distribution with wave-
front distortion. The dependence of the attenuation factor of
the power on the parameters changes of the wavelet model
is studied. For the numerical analysis show, the wavelet
model mentioned above is employed. The result shown in
Fig. 4 is the dependence of the attenuation factor of the
power on the depth of the Db3 wavelet model. The
horizontal axis and the vertical axis stand for the depth and
the attenuation factor of the power respectively. The
diameter of the receiving plane is 0.25m.
Results show, the near field power change is equal to far
field result. So from the measurement of near field power
change, without knowing how the wave-front distorts, the
power change on the receiving plan can be achieved. Then
the effect on the power of the output can be calculated. This
is the near field center power measurement method.
α [3]
h/λ
Near field
α in inter-satellite laser communication links,” Opt. Express 16, 13372-
h/λ
Far field
Fig.4 dependence of depth and the attenuation factor of the power
Authorized licensed use limited to: Escuela Superior de Ingeneria Mecanica. Downloaded
V. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, wavelet model is proposed in this paper to
depict the generalized wave-front distortion. Theatrical and
numerical analysis show that the periodic variation relation
between the depth of the distortion and the mutual alignment
error exists if and only if the pattern of the distortion can be
well approximated by a mean value. To a general irregular
pattern which can not be easily substitute by its root mean
square value, there is no obvious regulation that can be
followed. Hence, the depth of the distortion is not a proper
measure for the error estimation of the inter-satellite
communication links. With the increase of the area of the
deformation, the pointing error will increase for Gaussian
and non-Gaussian models. If the distortion is caused by the
transmitter, from the near field center power measurement,
the optical power on the receiving plane can be obtained.
This work presents a real-time monitoring system for inter-
satellite laser communications theoretically. Future work can
be focused on the compensation of the received power loss
for lower bit error rate and better performance of the
communication system.
REFERENCES
[1] B.M.Levine, “Horizontal line-of-sight turbulence over near-ground
path sand implications for adaptive optics corrections in laser
communications，” Appl.Opt. 37, 4553–4560(1998).
[2] B.R.Strickland, “Effects of fog on the bit-error rate of a free-space
laser communication system,” Appl.Opt. 38, 424–431(1999).
V.N.Mahajan, “Line of sight of an aberrated optical system,”
J.Opt.Soc.Am.A 2, 833–836(1985).
[4] YuqiangYang , “Effects of localized deformation induced by reflector
antenna on received power,” Opt. Comm. 282, 396-400 (2009).
[5] M.Toyoshima, “Mutual alignment errors due to the variation of wave-
front aberrations in a free-space laser communication link,”
Opt.Express 9, 592–602(2001).
[6] J.F.Sun, “Mutual alignment errors due to wave-front aberrations in
inter satellite laser communications,” Appl.Opt. 44, 4953-4958
(2005).
[7] J.Y.Wang “Wave-front inter pretation with Zernikepolynomials,”
Appl.Opt. 19, 1510-1518 (1980).
[8] LiyingTan, “Pointing and tracking errors due to localized deformation
13380 (2008).
[9] K.W.Bowman, “Application of wavelets to wavefront reconstruction
in adaptive optical systems,” Proc SPIE, 3126, 288 (1997).
243 on July 19,2023 at 02:05:22 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.