Image: Enno Kapitza for DLR

The department Optical Satellite Links deals with the application of optical technologies in satellite communication and related topics.
These include:

• Development of communication terminals for optical satellite downlinks to earth and optical inter-satellite links with very high data rates
• Development of the required technologies for optical feeder links with terabit-per-second data throughput
• Design of optical satellite networks as an extension of terrestrial optical fibre networks
• Development, implementation and test operation of optical ground stations and ground station networks for communication applications
• Studies and development of Photonic Integrated Circuits for miniaturisation of optical payloads for satellite applications
• Development, implementation, qualification and demonstration of optical communication systems on satellites in space
• Development of optical satellite terminals and ground stations for applications in quantum communication and quantum key distribution (QKD)
• Development, construction and qualification of methods and devices for optical time and frequency transfer for application in "Kepler" and other future satellite navigation systems
• Investigation of the atmospheric transmission channel through theoretical work as well as practical experiments as a basis for the development of suitable countermeasures and robust transmission methods, in particular development of systems of adaptive optics optimised for communication applications, quantum communication and satellite navigation.

The department is internationally networked with all this work, is involved in numerous international projects and, in particular, maintains close relationships with selected industrial companies. The transfer of the technologies and know-how developed to industry is one of DLR's key objectives and is consistently pursued.