High-Power Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers for Free-Space Communications

Given the ever-growing need for high-data rate, low-latency, secure, wireless communications driven by applications ranging from vehicle automation to ad-hoc battlefield command and control, free-space communication links (FSCLs) operating outside of the regulated and crowded rf-frequency bands are increasingly in demand. Recent research has verified that there are advantages to using MWIR and LWIR wavelengths for FSCLs through the atmosphere [1]. If the transmitter and receiver components can be developed to meet the FSCL requirements, this would enable lower latency than satellite links, greater security than rf, longer range than mm-wave, and greater availability than near-IR systems.