Abstract: An optical system for remotely optical communications at a high data rate between a base station and a remote station under atmospheric turbulence conditions is disclosed. The remote station includes an entirely different type of retroreflector that does not use the conventional type of retroreflection, but instead consists of two sets of lenslets coupled with single-mode fiber array, called fiber “retro”. Amplified retromodulation is achieved requiring only one single optical amplifier and one single modulator. A transmitter located at the base station sends an interrogating optical beam to the fiber “retro” which modulates the optical beam according to the input signal/data, and redirects the modulated optical beam to the base station for detection by a receiver. The present invention includes the capabilities of providing Identification of Friend-or-Foe (IFF), secure communication, and a means of achieving a wide field-of-view (FOV) with a fiber-coupled lenselet array.

Abstract: An optical system for remotely optical communications at a high data rate between a base station and a remote station under atmospheric turbulence conditions is disclosed. The remote station includes an entirely different type of retroreflector that does not use the conventional type of retroreflection, but instead consists of two sets of lenslets coupled with single-mode fiber array, called fiber “retro”. Amplified retromodulation is achieved requiring only one single optical amplifier and one single modulator. A transmitter located at the base station sends an interrogating optical beam to the fiber “retro” which modulates the optical beam according to the input signal/data, and redirects the modulated optical beam to the base station for detection by a receiver. The present invention includes the capabilities of providing Identification of Friend-or-Foe (IFF), secure communication, and a means of achieving a wide field-of-view (FOV) with a fiber-coupled lenselet array.