Acquisition performance for inter-satellite optical communication between low earth orbit and geostationary orbit satellites with vibration and asymmetric initial pointing errors

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation into the acquisition performance of inter-satellite optical communication systems between low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit satellites, specifically addressing the challenges posed by platform vibration and asymmetric initial pointing errors. The study begins with a brief overview of conventional spiral scan (CSS), highlighting the limitations of the CSS in handling asymmetric error conditions. A novel rhombus spiral scan (RSS) method is then proposed, which optimizes the scanning process by prioritizing regions of high probability density, improving both acquisition probability and acquisition time. The theoretical foundations of the RSS method are developed, followed by a comparative analysis using Monte Carlo simulations and experimental validation. Special focus is given to the impact of asymmetric initial pointing errors and vibration, demonstrating that under practical conditions, the RSS method achieves a 7% improvement in acquisition probability and a 14.9% reduction in acquisition time compared to CSS. Finally, the advantages of the RSS method for enhancing acquisition performance in real-world inter-satellite optical communication systems are discussed.