Optical antenna

An optical antenna for a duplex link formed by a transmit, Tx, beam towards a partner optical antenna and a receive, Rx, beam from the partner antenna, the optical antenna comprising:

• a proximal optical path comprising a bidirectional waveguide for duplex propagation of the Tx beam from at least one Tx source and of the Rx beam towards at least one receiver;
• and
• a distal duplex free-space optical path for duplex propagation of the Tx beam towards the partner optical antenna and the Rx beam from the partner optical antenna,
• wherein the proximal waveguide path comprises a non-reciprocal optical element comprising a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector, so as to direct:
• light input from the first connector to the second connector;
• and
• light input from the second connector to the third connector,
• wherein the first connector is configured to receive the Tx beam from at least one Tx source, the second connector is optically communicating with the bidirectional waveguide, and the third connector is configured to output the Rx beam.

A method comprising:

• controlling the shape of a duplex propagation pattern of a duplex link for an optical antenna to enclose:
• a first partner antenna position of a partner antenna at the instant of transmission of the Rx beam of the duplex link;
• and
• a second antenna position of the partner antenna at the instant of reception of the Tx beam.

A method for a duplex link formed by a transmit, Tx, beam towards a partner optical antenna and a receive, Rx, beam from the partner antenna, along:

• a proximal optical path comprising a bidirectional waveguide for duplex propagation of the Tx beam from at least one Tx source and of the Rx beam towards at least one receiver;
• a distal duplex free-space optical path for duplex propagation of the Tx beam towards the partner optical antenna and the Rx beam from the partner optical antenna;
• wherein method comprises:
• directing, through a non-reciprocal optical element comprising a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector:
• light input from the first connector to the second connector;
• and
• light input from the second connector to the third connector,
• wherein the first connector is configured to receive the Tx beam from at least one Tx source, the second connector is optically communicating with the bidirectional waveguide, and the third connector is configured to output the Rx beam.

A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method comprising:

• controlling the shape of a duplex propagation pattern of a duplex link for an optical antenna to enclose:
• a first partner antenna position of a partner antenna at the instant of transmission of the Rx beam of the duplex link;
• and
• a second antenna position of the partner antenna at the instant of reception of the Tx beam,
• when said computer program is run by a computer.

A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for a duplex link formed by a transmit, Tx, beam towards a partner optical antenna and a receive, Rx, beam from the partner antenna, along:

• a proximal optical path comprising a bidirectional waveguide for duplex propagation of the Tx beam from at least one Tx source and of the Rx beam towards at least one receiver;
• a distal duplex free-space optical path for duplex propagation of the Tx beam towards the partner optical antenna and the Rx beam from the partner optical antenna;
• wherein method comprises:
• directing, through a non-reciprocal optical element comprising a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector:
• light input from the first connector to the second connector;
• and
• light input from the second connector to the third connector,
• wherein the first connector is configured to receive the Tx beam from at least one Tx source, the second connector is optically communicating with the bidirectional waveguide, and the third connector is configured to output the Rx beam,
• when said computer program is run by a computer.