Adaptive Long-wave Free Space Optical Network Solutions

Welcome to ALFONSO

ALFONSO represents the next generation of commerical Free Space Optics, overcoming present-day limitations of atmospheric penetration, fade margin, scintillation, alignment, power and bandwidth. In the ALFONSO programme, development of a novel class of laser light source, the mid-infrared, optically pumped, vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (mid-IR OP-VECSEL), is used to address the problems and constraints of modern high-performance FSO communications. In concert with this laser development, advanced AO techniques for the compensation of environmental misalignment and atmospheric turbulence correction are employed. Both these technologies together represent a significant advance over current FSO systems but are also eminently applicable in a wide range of important areas ranging from sensing through to military applications.

ALFONSO press release

• Institute of Physics, University of Strathclyde

• University of Durham

• SIRA

• Starpoint Adaptive Optics Limited

• CableFree Solutions Limited

Former Consortium Member

• Ferranti Photonics Limited

ALFONSO is funded by a DTI Link Award scheme

All site contents (C)2003 Stephen Patrick