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i -heliostat 6/8 update. Amy Whitcombe, Kendall Pletcher, Eric Kolker, Kiefer Hicks. Revised SOW.
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i-heliostat6/8 update Amy Whitcombe, Kendall Pletcher, Eric Kolker, Kiefer Hicks
Revised SOW Research, design, construct, and test a prototype communication system which modulates sunlight to send information over large distances—such as between the moon and the earth—in a vacuum. This system should be significantly more efficient than traditional laser communication systems.
Questions for Steve • What is our budget? • Can we get access to the roof? • Does Olin have a telescope that we can have access to?
Questions for Jeff • What will you be giving us? • Is it correct that essentially the only constraint you have on this communication system is that it uses sunlight instead of lasers to transmit a signal? • To what extent do you care about the alignment of the system? • Do you want a proof of concept or a functional transmission system?
Progress • Researched current solutions • Researched historical optical communication systems • Generated preliminary ideas, researched feasibility • Electro-optic modulation, Acousto-optic modulation • Pockels cells and kerr cells (optic) • Brag cells (acoustic) • Solar Aldis lamp • Shutters over mirror (req two mirrors?) • Mirrors which compose shutters • Plain ol’ mirror (possibly using speakers to modulate)
The Next Step • We need to set up tests for these ideas to find the most feasible. • Materials we need • Mirrors • Shutter (aldis) • Or Mirrors to make shutters (aldis) • CDs? • Speakers • Pockels cells and kerr cells (electro) • Brag cells (acoustic) • Lamps of different levels of brightness • Lasers (for testing alignment) • Set of physics demo lenses?