Phase characteristic and information transmission of laser signals through plasma in shock tube

Laser communication is a promising way of achieving effective communication during reentry. This paper focuses on the phase characteristics and information transmission of laser signals in plasma sheaths. First, propagation of the laser signals through the sheaths is analyzed theoretically. Next, phase characteristics of the periodic laser signals are studied by ground simulation experiments in shock tube. Further, experiments of the pseudorandom amplitude and phase modulated signals are conducted. Finally, information transmission is tested. This paper is the basic research of laser transmission characteristics in plasma sheaths and has experimentally realized successful information transmission in the plasma generated by shock tube. The results could provide reference for the future ground and flight experiments.