The Chinese satellite transmitted data five times faster than Starlink
Chinese experts have achieved data transfer at a speed of one gigabit per second from a geostationary satellite to Earth using a two-watt laser.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), this speed is five times faster than Starlink's satellite internet service, which can provide download speeds ranging from 50 to 200 megabits per second.
The main challenge for satellite laser communication remains atmospheric turbulence, which distorts and weakens signals. Therefore, researchers from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications have developed a new method called "AO-MDR synergy." This technology combines adaptive optics (AO) to amplify distorted light and multi-beam detection (MDR) to capture scattered signals, resulting in significantly improved signal quality even at very low power levels.
The experiment was conducted at an observatory in Lijiang, southwestern China, using a 1.8-meter telescope aimed at a satellite more than 36,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface.
The telescope, equipped with a high-tech array of 357 tiny, individually controlled micro-mirrors, has become part of an adaptive optical system. The purpose of these mirrors is to actively shape and correct the incoming laser light, which is distorted by atmospheric turbulence. After the light is corrected by the micro-mirrors, it is processed to extract the most accurate data possible. The light then enters a multimode fiber, which is divided into eight base-mode channels using a multi-plane converter. The next step is to determine which of these channels carries the most reliable and strong signal. This is where the "path selection" algorithm comes into play. The algorithm analyzes the strength and quality of each of the eight baseband channels in real-time. It then identifies the three strongest and most coherent signals among these eight channels.
The results showed that the probability of receiving a stable signal increased from 72% to 91.1%, which is important for transmitting valuable data where even small errors can have serious consequences.
Chinese experts have achieved data transfer at a speed of one gigabit per second from a geostationary satellite to Earth using a two-watt laser.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), this speed is five times faster than Starlink's satellite internet service, which can provide download speeds ranging from 50 to 200 megabits per second.
The main challenge for satellite laser communication remains atmospheric turbulence, which distorts and weakens signals. Therefore, researchers from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications have developed a new method called "AO-MDR synergy." This technology combines adaptive optics (AO) to amplify distorted light and multi-beam detection (MDR) to capture scattered signals, resulting in significantly improved signal quality even at very low power levels.
The experiment was conducted at an observatory in Lijiang, southwestern China, using a 1.8-meter telescope aimed at a satellite more than 36,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface.
The telescope, equipped with a high-tech array of 357 tiny, individually controlled micro-mirrors, has become part of an adaptive optical system. The purpose of these mirrors is to actively shape and correct the incoming laser light, which is distorted by atmospheric turbulence. After the light is corrected by the micro-mirrors, it is processed to extract the most accurate data possible. The light then enters a multimode fiber, which is divided into eight base-mode channels using a multi-plane converter. The next step is to determine which of these channels carries the most reliable and strong signal. This is where the "path selection" algorithm comes into play. The algorithm analyzes the strength and quality of each of the eight baseband channels in real-time. It then identifies the three strongest and most coherent signals among these eight channels.
The results showed that the probability of receiving a stable signal increased from 72% to 91.1%, which is important for transmitting valuable data where even small errors can have serious consequences.
@Shlomo Interesting research! Is there a paper for it?
i had one job. 
