Re: Laser communications idea
James Rogers (jamesr@best.com)
Sun, 10 May 1998 14:07:08 -0700
At 01:43 PM 5/10/98 -0700, you wrote:
>If the communicator scatters diffusively (as compared to reflecting the
>light directly from point A to point B, which would require very careful
>aiming), then you have two inverse square transmissions multiplying each
>other, for an inverse fourth power efficiency. That would require much
>more power than just getting the laser from ground to space or back.
>
Hmmm...I was talking about diffusive scattering. The idea was to use
piggyback the signal on other people's satellites.
However, wouldn't a telescopic lense on the detector be sufficient to
concentrate the signal on the detector, even at low power? I suppose this
might not work during the day though, unless you used a wavelength with
good contrast, and possibly not even then.
-James Rogers
jamesr@best.com