Beam Pointing Systems (CPA / FPA)
General Atomics Synopta GmbH
Coarse and Fine Pointing Assemblies for beam pointing and stabilization in laser communication terminals and optical ground stations.
Technical specifications
- CPA 270 max beam diameter
- Ø 270 mm (ground-based, harsh environmental conditions)
- CPA 135 max beam diameter
- Ø 135 mm (space-qualified, series production for GEO/LEO LCTs)
- CPA 70
- Smaller beam diameter variant, space qualification program
- CPA pointing error
- < 30 µrad
- CPA induced wavefront error
- typically < 25 nm rms
- CPA wavelength options
- Visual spectral range; optimized variants at 1064 nm and/or 1550 nm
- FPA angular range
- ± 2.5° (mechanical)
- FPA pointing dynamics
- typically 1000 Hz
- FPA useful beam diameter
- ~25 mm
- FPA pointing error
- < 10 µrad
- FPA induced wavefront error
- typically < 15 nm rms
- FPA wavelength options
- Visual spectral range; optimized variants at 1064 nm and/or 1550 nm
About
GA-Synopta’s beam pointing systems comprise Coarse Pointing Assemblies (CPAs), which cover a hemispherical angular pointing range for ground-based and space-qualified applications, and Fine Pointing Assemblies (FPAs), which provide high-dynamics beam stabilization over a smaller mechanical range using two-axis gimballed mirrors. The CPA 135 variant is space-qualified and used in laser communication terminals on GEO and LEO Earth-observation satellites, in series production; the CPA 270 targets ground-based systems operating in harsh environmental conditions. Both families are optimizable for the visual spectral range as well as 1064 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths for laser communication links.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
