This Request for Quote (“RFQ”) is an invitation to prospective Proponents to submit Quotes for the provision of equipment type, including installation and on-site training.
The proposed equipment is a fast adaptive optics (AO) system. The AO system is to be integrated into an existing intra-city free-space quantum communication channel for the real-time correction of atmospheric turbulence. The system, which includes a deformable mirror, wave-front sensor, software and/or computer, should operate with more than 1 kHz speed.
1.2.1 General Description:
This project will create a state-of-the-art system for the real-time correction of atmospheric correction for the use in a free-space quantum communication channel.
When implementing free-space communications, atmospheric turbulence distorts and degrades the transmitted signal. The integration of a fast adaptive optics system will allow the correction of atmospheric turbulence. This will significantly reduce environmental errors in order to perform secure quantum communication.
The requested system must include a deformable mirror, wavefront sensor, software and/or computer. In total, the whole system should be able to correct the wavefront at more than 1 kHz, with a rejection bandwidth of a couple hundred hertz. All the elements must have the correct anti-reflection coating for the visible to near-infrared wavelengths (500-1000 nm). The deformable mirror should have a large enough number of actuators, with low hysteresis, to correct for atmospheric turbulence with a Fried parameter ranging from 1-20cm, within a receiving lens with a diameter of 50 cm. The software ideally can be customized via Labview, Python, or Matlab. Since these components will be housed in an outdoor environment, they should be robust to temperatures from -30 to +40C.
The Appendix A specifications contained in this RFQ are the mandatory minimum requirements for the Fast Adaptive Optics System.
