Free space optical communications system including optical phased array telescope

Abstract

Improved systems and methods for optical communications are provided that have reduced size, weight, and power use. Such system and methods can find, use between satellites or other distant systems that are in significant relative motion. Such embodiments include the use of a diamagnetically levitated magnetic actuator or other actuator to control the orientation of an optical phased array (OPA), thereby aiming the array at distant target systems. An OPA has reduced size and mass relative to traditional telescopes, providing similar beam apertures while having reduced size, weight, and cost of the OPA and associated actuators. The actuator allows the OPA to omit, or to include fewer, phase shifter elements than previous steerable OPA telescopes, reducing complexity', cost, and power requirements.