University of Manitoba

Purpose

Free-space optical (FSO) communication between ground stations and satellites suffer from wavefront aberration due to atmospheric turbulence. Distortions of the optical beam can destructively influence signal continuity, and reduce the speed and throughput of data transmission. Adaptive optics (AO) can mitigate distortion, by compensating the distorted wavefronts using deformable mirrors (DMs) that dynamically adjust their shape. This project will focus on the development of Low Voltage Deformable Mirrors (LVDM) activated by an array of both Lorentz and tri-electrode electrostatic actuators. Critical issues in FSO communication are physical size and power consumption. Both these issues can be minimized by utilizing low voltage DMs. One significant advantage of this approach is avoiding the need for hundreds of electrical connections to external high voltage controllers, which are required in high voltage electrostatic and piezoelectric Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) AO devices. Thus, the vision is to create an integrated Low voltage MEMS DM with low voltage drive electronics directly on-board.