Feasibility of utilizing Cherenkov Telescope Array gamma-ray telescopes as free-space optical communication ground stations

TL;DR

This paper explores using Cherenkov Telescope Array gamma-ray telescopes as ground stations for deep-space optical communication, leveraging their large apertures and economies of scale to support weak signals from distant probes.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of repurposing CTA gamma-ray telescopes for optical communication ground stations, highlighting their large apertures and cost advantages.

Findings

Large apertures can overcome power limitations in deep-space links.

Economies of scale reduce costs for deploying multiple telescopes.

Potential for supporting future deep-space optical communication links.

Abstract

The signals that will be received on Earth from deep-space probes in future implementations of free-space optical communication will be extremely weak, and new ground stations will have to be developed in order to support these links. This paper addresses the feasibility of using the technology developed in the gamma-ray telescopes that will make up the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observatory in the implementation of a new kind of ground station. Among the main advantages that these telescopes provide are the much larger apertures needed to overcome the power limitation that ground-based gamma-ray astronomy and optical communication both have. Also, the large number of big telescopes that will be built for CTA will make it possible to reduce costs by economy-scale production, enabling optical communications in the large telescopes that will be needed for future deep-space links.