New Progress in Optical Precision Measurement in the Field of Space Technology

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Interaction Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 296

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Research, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
Interests: space precision measurement; laser FMCW ranging; high-precision inter-satellite baseline measurement

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Guest Editor
Department of Precision Instruments and Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Interests: integrated lithium niobate photonics; optical frequency comb; frequency modulated CW LiDAR

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue titled “New Progress in Optical Precision Measurement in the Field of Space Technology”. As space exploration and astronomical observations continue to advance, the need for high-precision optical measurement techniques has become more critical than ever. This Special Issue will showcase cutting-edge research on innovative methodologies, novel instrumentation, and advanced data processing techniques that enhance the accuracy and efficiency of optical measurement in space applications. We welcome contributions from researchers and experts across the fields of space optics, precision metrology, and astronomical measurements. By bringing together the latest developments in this field, we hope to foster collaboration and inspire future advancements in space optical measurement technologies. We invite you to submit original research, reviews, and technical papers to this Special Issue and contribute to the ongoing evolution of precision optical measurement in space exploration. This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest breakthroughs in space-based optical metrology, including but not limited to the following research areas:

  • Optical interferometry;
  • Laser ranging;
  • LiDAR;
  • Optical imaging;
  • Laser FMCW;
  • New methods in optical precision measurement;
  • Applications of Optical measurement in the field of space technology.

Dr. Zhongwen Deng
Dr. Xingyu Jia
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • optical interferometry
  • Laser Ranging
  • LiDAR
  • optical imaging
  • FMCW
  • image processing
  • laser comb

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 5419 KB  
Article
High-Precision Point-Ahead Angle Real-Time Prediction Algorithm for Inter-Satellite Laser Links
by Xiangnan Liu, Xiaoping Li, Zhongwen Deng and Haifeng Sun
Photonics 2025, 12(9), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12090886 - 3 Sep 2025
Viewed by 56
Abstract
The accurate prediction of the point-ahead angle (PAA) is crucial for applications of inter-satellite laser links (ISLLs), especially laser ranging and continuous communication. Herein, a real-time and high-precision point-ahead-angle algorithm is presented; the principle of the algorithm is mathematically characterized, and its performance [...] Read more.
The accurate prediction of the point-ahead angle (PAA) is crucial for applications of inter-satellite laser links (ISLLs), especially laser ranging and continuous communication. Herein, a real-time and high-precision point-ahead-angle algorithm is presented; the principle of the algorithm is mathematically characterized, and its performance is simulated and verified using typical on-orbit scenarios. The maximum PAAs of a typical geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO)–GEO link and low Earth orbit (LEO)–GEO link were simulated with this algorithm, and the results are consistent with those of typical calculation methods, proving the algorithm’s accuracy. The performance of the proposed algorithm was verified using a practical engineering application of ISLLs, where it was used to calculate the point-ahead angle during stable on-orbit communication. The Pearson correlations between the curves of azimuth, elevation, and total point-ahead angles, and the actual experimental data are 99.91%, 52.32%, and 98.01%, respectively. The corresponding average deviations are −5.8510 nrad, −1.0945 nrad, and −79.5403 nrad, respectively. The maximum calculation error is 5.2103%, and the calculation accuracy exceeds 94%. The above results show that the algorithm produces results that closely match actual on-orbit experimental data with high calculation accuracy, enabling the accurate prediction of the point-ahead angle and the improvement of ISLL stability. Additionally, with this method, the measurement error of the laser ranging is smaller than 50 μm, further enhancing the accuracy of precision measurements based on ISLLs. Full article
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