Free-Space Mid-Infrared Optical Links using Quantum Cascade Lasers

摘要

We present experimental results for an optical free-space high-speed link using direct modulated mid-infrared (λ= 8.1 μm) quantum cascade lasers. A stable link was realized over a distance of 200m and QPSK encoded multimedia data were transmitted and received error-free, incorporating several hundred digitally encoded multimedia channels. The reliability of the system against weather influence (fog) was experimentally compared to that of a near-infrared (λ= 0.85 μm) link. Under clear weather conditions comparable results were obtained in both links. However, a higher stability of the MIR link was clearly observed under a dense fog situation.