Laser Communications and Timing

The Astrophotonics group at the UWA Node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, led by Associate Professor Sascha Schediwy, uses free-space laser communication to revolutionise a wide variety of applications.

The transmission of laser signals over free-space links, particularly between ground and space, revolutionises applications ranging from fundamental physics experiments and applied geoscience, to satellite navigation and high-speed, quantum-encrypted communication. However, until now, these applications have been severely limited by the turbulence of the atmosphere.

ICRAR's Astrophotonics group, otherwise known as 'optical communications' or 'laser communications and timing', advances these applications through a number of methods including atmospheric noise suppression, communications channel modelling, computational analysis of quantum information, and laboratory investigations. To validate their work, they utilise horizontal free-space laser links at UWA, as well as the Western Australian Optical Ground Station to establish vertical links to airborne targets, and eventually to satellites in space.

The group has been successful in its bid to advance its cutting-edge space communication technology for commercial application as well.

As part of its Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission program, the ICRAR-based TeraNet team received funding from the Australian Government, the Western Australian Government, and UWA in 2023 as part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission grant program. The $6.3m project supports the construction of the three TeraNet optical ground stations in Western Australia, with the German space agency (DLR) providing in-kind access to their laser communications-equipped on-orbit satellites.

Using super-fast lasers to talk to satellites and spacecraft, their work will revolutionise data transfer to and from Earth. The new technology is 1,000 times faster and more secure than the radio communications currently used.

As the first of its kind in Australia, the network will have two fixed ground stations located at UWA's Crawley campus and Mingenew, and a third mobile station, initially deployed at the European Space Agency's New Norcia Deep Space Ground Station. UWA is collaborating with Thales Australia and Goonhilly Australia to deliver the TeraNet project.