Inter-islands optical link tests

Free-space optical communication systems between satellites and also between a satellite and a ground station foreseen in Europe in the mid-1990's require far-field on-ground experimentation prior to launch. To identify possible scenarios for a test site, an atmospheric near-infrared semiconductor laser link was set up between two mountain peaks 143.5 km apart located in two islands in the Canarian Archipelago. The link confirmed the excellent atmospheric conditions of this scenario (low attenuation, turbulence-induced effects below or close to saturation during nighttime) in addition to its high availability.Peer Reviewe