Leti and Mynaric partner on APDs for FSO aircraft/drone/satellite constellation networks

April 12, 2018
The collaboration centers on the next generation of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) for laser communications.

Mynaric (Gilching, Germany), a manufacturer of laser communication technologies used to establish communication networks in air and space, has formed an exclusive partnership with Leti, a French research institute at CEA Tech, on a key technological development in high-speed communication. Mynaric says the collaboration centers on the next generation of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) for telecommunication systems with an improved performance level far exceeding the already record-breaking values achieved by Mynaric's laser communication products.

RELATED ARTICLE: Atmospheric turbulence model highlights hurdles to FSO communications using twisted OAM light

The development targets laser communication products for large technical companies set on satellite and high-altitude constellations comprised of hundredsand, in some cases, thousandsof units. The exclusive agreement positions Mynaric as prime supplier for these constellation networks of interconnected aircraft, drones, and satellites.

Companies building constellations in space, in the stratosphere, as well as in commercial airspace will see numerous benefits reflected in this key upgrade to Mynaric's laser communication systems with the technology yielding considerable improvements in distance and offering the potential to significantly decrease system complexity. Importantly for the aerospace industry, this reduced system complexity is expected to lead to lower production costs, size, weight and power (SWaP) consumption of Mynaric's laser communication units, expanding the economic viability and market reach of laser communications.

Johan Rothman, detector-physics scientist at Leti, said, "The collaboration with Mynaric is a great opportunity to boost the development of HgCdTe APDs to reach the required speed for high data rate telecommunications. Demonstrating this performance will open an important commercial perspective and a path to a fast industrialization of the detectors. It also will accelerate time to market of detectors optimized for scientific applications, such as atmospheric LIDAR and spectroscopy."

The exceptionally high-performance photo diode that has been developed by Leti offers sensitivity improvements at least 10 times greater than existing sensitivity. This allows for more than double the current link distance or significant simplification of systems.

Wolfram Peschko, CEO of Mynaric, added, "The cooperation between Mynaric and Leti highlights the importance that our joint creativity plays in pushing to give already highly successful technical products heightened performance and make them more affordable and indispensable in the march towards equipping constellations to enable global internet connectivity. It is by diversifying our technological partnershipsadding the years of experience and research from Leti to that we have gained from our long-standing partnership with the German Aerospace Center (DLR)that helps us to further improve our products and prioritize the commercialization and serialization of the laser communication products that the market needs."

SOURCE: Mynaric; https://mynaric.com/2018/04/mynaric-announces-exclusive-partnership-with-leti-for-market-changing-laser-communications-technology/

About the Author

Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)

Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.

Sponsored Recommendations

How Precision Motion Systems are Shaping the Future of Semiconductor Manufacturing

March 28, 2024
This article highlights the pivotal role precision motion systems play in supporting the latest semiconductor manufacturing trends.

Understanding 3D Printing Tolerances: A Guide to Achieving Precision in Additive Manufacturing

March 28, 2024
In the world of additive manufacturing, precision is paramount. One crucial aspect of ensuring precision in 3D printing is understanding tolerances. In this article, we’ll explore...

Automation Technologies to Scale PIC Testing from Lab to Fab

March 28, 2024
This webinar will cover the basics of precision motion systems for PIC testing and discuss the ways motion solutions can be specifically designed to address the production-scale...

Case Study: Medical Tube Laser Processing

March 28, 2024
To enhance their cardiovascular stent’s precision, optimize throughput and elevate part quality, a renowned manufacturer of medical products embarked on a mission to fabricate...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!