G&H

<h3>Overview</h3>
Headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK, G&H develops photonics technologies in Europe and the United States for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers across the world. Their specialties include optical designing and testing as well as providing optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications including those deployed in harsh environments.

G&H develops equipment for three core industries: Aerospace/Defense, Industrial/Telecom, and Life Sciences/Biophotonics. Their expertise in optical manufacturing centers on four technologies: Acousto-Optics, Electro-Optics, Fiber Optics, and Precision Optics. <a href="https://gandh.com/about/about-us/">[1]</a>
<h3>LUCAS</h3>
G&H photonics technology is currently being utilized aboard the communication system known as LUCAS (Laser Utilising Communication System), which uses hardware developed by Japan’s NEC Corporation for <a href="https://wiki.pathfinderdigital.com/wiki/jaxa/">JAXA</a>. The Optical Data Relay Satellite was recently launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima on an H-IIA rocket with LUCAS on board. The organizations using LUCAS hope to show how laser communications can be a viable solution for future high-speed and scalable space communications.

The LUCAS system uses G&H’s high-reliability undersea terrestrial communications capabilities and takes their photonic technologies and fiber optic systems into space. These technologies are pushing the boundaries in terms of data rates and latency with the aim of offering near real-time availability of satellite data. Two types of laser communication systems have been developed: one for geostationary satellites and one for earth observation satellites deployed in <a href="https://wiki.pathfinderdigital.com/wiki/leo/">LEO</a>.

LUCAS communicates at 1.55 μm and has onboard two optical amplifier systems, both designed and manufactured by G&H. These systems are used to create an all-optical bidirectional link between <a href="https://wiki.pathfinderdigital.com/wiki/geo/">GEO</a> and LEO satellites. A high-power amplifier system is responsible for boosting the optical signal level before it goes out into space. A low-noise amplifier is used at the receiver side to amplify the very weak signals after having propagated in space for distances up to tens of thousands of kilometers. The laser communication equipment is also designed to withstand the effects of being launched, as well as long term radiation exposure whilst in orbit. This would be the first time 1.55 μm optical fiber amplifiers have been deployed for use in the GEO orbit. <a href="https://gandh.com/successful-launch-of-satellite-laser-communication-system/">[2]</a>
<h3>Related Links</h3>
<a href="https://gandh.com/space-photonics-2/rd/">G&H Space Photonics R&D</a>
<p class="entry-title single-title"><a href="http://tokiox.com/wp/nec-developed-laser-optical-communication-device-for-jaxa/?lang=en">NEC: Developed laser optical communication device for JAXA satellite “LUCAS”</a></p>

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