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Overview of Space-Based Laser Communication Missions and Payloads: Insights from the Autonomous Laser Inter-Satellite Gigabit Network (ALIGN) (2024)
Journal Article
Younus, O. I., Riaz, A., Binns, R., Scullion, E., Wicks, R., Vernon, J., Graham, C., Bramall, D., Schmoll, J., & Bourgenot, C. (2024). Overview of Space-Based Laser Communication Missions and Payloads: Insights from the Autonomous Laser Inter-Satellite Gigabit Network (ALIGN). Aerospace, 11(11), Article 907. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11110907

This paper examines the growing adoption of laser communication (lasercom) in space missions and payloads for identifying emerging trends and key technology drivers of future optical communications satellite systems. It also presents a comprehensive... Read More about Overview of Space-Based Laser Communication Missions and Payloads: Insights from the Autonomous Laser Inter-Satellite Gigabit Network (ALIGN).

Steering Mirror System with Closed-Loop Feedback for Free-Space Optical Communication Terminals (2024)
Journal Article
Graham, C., Bramall, D., Younus, O., Riaz, A., Binns, R., Scullion, E., Wicks, R. T., & Bourgenot, C. (2024). Steering Mirror System with Closed-Loop Feedback for Free-Space Optical Communication Terminals. Aerospace, 11(5), Article 330. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11050330

Precision beam pointing plays a critical role in free-space optical communications terminals in uplink, downlink and inter-satellite link scenarios. Among the various methods of beam steering, the use of fast steering mirrors (FSM) is widely adopted,... Read More about Steering Mirror System with Closed-Loop Feedback for Free-Space Optical Communication Terminals.

Topology Optimization of a Single-Point Diamond-Turning Fixture for a Deployable Primary Mirror Telescope (2024)
Journal Article
Bourgenot, C., Krumins, V., Bramall, D. G., & Haque, A. M. (2024). Topology Optimization of a Single-Point Diamond-Turning Fixture for a Deployable Primary Mirror Telescope. Aerospace, 11(1), Article 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11010050

CubeSats, known for their compact size and cost effectiveness, have gained significant popularity. However, their limited size imposes restrictions on the optical aperture and, consequently, the Ground Resolution Distance in Earth Observation mission... Read More about Topology Optimization of a Single-Point Diamond-Turning Fixture for a Deployable Primary Mirror Telescope.

Integrated fiber optic spectrally resolved downwelling irradiance sensor for pushbroom spectrometers (2022)
Journal Article
Graham, C., Girkin, J. M., & Bourgenot, C. (2022). Integrated fiber optic spectrally resolved downwelling irradiance sensor for pushbroom spectrometers. Optics Express, 30(25), 45592-45598. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.477699

We present an integrated fiber optic spectrally resolved downwelling irradiance sensor for pushbroom hyperspectral imagers. The system comprises of a cosine corrector and custom fiber patch cables, collecting the ambient light in a large solid angle... Read More about Integrated fiber optic spectrally resolved downwelling irradiance sensor for pushbroom spectrometers.

Spectral index selection method for remote moisture sensing under challenging illumination conditions (2022)
Journal Article
Graham, C., Girkin, J., & Bourgenot, C. (2022). Spectral index selection method for remote moisture sensing under challenging illumination conditions. Scientific Reports, 12(1), Article 14555. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18801-9

Remote sensing using passive solar illumination in the Short-Wave Infrared spectrum is exposed to strong intensity variation in the spectral bands due to atmospheric changing conditions and spectral absorption. More robust spectral analysis methods,... Read More about Spectral index selection method for remote moisture sensing under challenging illumination conditions.

Freeform based hYperspectral imager for MOisture Sensing (FYMOS) (2021)
Journal Article
Graham, C., Girkin, J. M., & Bourgenot, C. (2021). Freeform based hYperspectral imager for MOisture Sensing (FYMOS). Optics Express, 29(11), 16007-16018. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.425660

We present FYMOS, an all-aluminum, robust, light weight, freeform based, near infrared hYperspectral imager for MOisture Sensing. FYMOS was designed and built to remotely measure moisture content using spectral features from 0.7-1.7µm integrating an... Read More about Freeform based hYperspectral imager for MOisture Sensing (FYMOS).

Full-Field Terahertz Imaging at Kilohertz Frame Rates Using Atomic Vapor (2020)
Journal Article
Downes, L. A., MacKellar, A. R., Whiting, D. J., Bourgenot, C., Adams, C. S., & Weatherill, K. J. (2020). Full-Field Terahertz Imaging at Kilohertz Frame Rates Using Atomic Vapor. Physical Review X, 10(1), Article 011027. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevx.10.011027

There is much interest in employing terahertz (THz) radiation across a range of imaging applications, but so far, technologies have struggled to achieve the necessary frame rates. Here, we demonstrate a THz imaging system based upon efficient THz-to-... Read More about Full-Field Terahertz Imaging at Kilohertz Frame Rates Using Atomic Vapor.

New opportunities of freeform gratings using diamond machining (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Bourgenot, C., Calcines, A., & Sharples, R. M. (2018, December). New opportunities of freeform gratings using diamond machining. Presented at Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation III: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2018, Austin, Texas

With the recent development of new ultra fine aluminium alloys and progress in the field of directly machined freeform surfaces, diamond machined freeform gratings could play an important part in future spectrographs or integral field units, particul... Read More about New opportunities of freeform gratings using diamond machining.

Design of freeform diffraction gratings: performance, limitations and potential applications (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Calcines, A., Bourgenot, C., & Sharples, R. M. (2018, June). Design of freeform diffraction gratings: performance, limitations and potential applications. Presented at Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation III: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2018, Austin, Texas

Spectroscopy is a key technique in astronomy and nowadays most major telescopes include at least one spectrograph in their instrument suite. The dispersive element is one of the most important components and it defines the pupil size, spectral resolu... Read More about Design of freeform diffraction gratings: performance, limitations and potential applications.

Development of Focusing Plasma Mirrors for Ultraintense Laser-Driven Particle and Radiation Sources (2018)
Journal Article
Wilson, R., King, M., Gray, R., Carroll, D., Dance, R., Butler, N., …McKenna, P. (2018). Development of Focusing Plasma Mirrors for Ultraintense Laser-Driven Particle and Radiation Sources. Quantum Beam Science, 2(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs2010001

Increasing the peak intensity to which high power laser pulses are focused can open up new regimes of laser-plasma interactions, resulting in the acceleration of ions to higher energies and more efficient generation of energetic photons. Low f-number... Read More about Development of Focusing Plasma Mirrors for Ultraintense Laser-Driven Particle and Radiation Sources.