Recent content by Hop-AC8NS

The optical-EME QSO will probably have to occur over two or more nights of Lunar viewing because the returning photon flux is quite small. This is possible because the transmitted bit sequences are transmitted for a finite duration in synchronism with a GPS-disciplined oscillator controlling a...

Thank you for your response. I'll go back and review some basic optics. I used to be able to get by with some simple ray tracing and trigonometry, but there is probably an easier softer way, a design app perhaps. Edmunds has always been my "go to" source for optical information, and...

I have a small Chinese green laser pointer. It produces a very bright collimated beam, roughly 2mm diameter with its existing optics. I would like to know two things: (1) how to expand the laser pointer beam while maintaining collimation, (2) how to produce a collimated beam of any arbitrary...

I sometimes have enjoyed navel gazing, not so much since quitting drinking in the late 1980s. Is this thread going anywhere? As the Man said: How would you measure it? My personal opinions are influenced by observable facts, but they are still just opinions, not necessarily science. I guess...

There are two kinds of physicists: theoretical and experimental. A good physicist IMO embodies both. Try an experiment with a vacuum cleaner first. This is the most essential part of the scientific method used to discover truth. Based on what you observe and/or measure, create an hypothesis of...

A little early for that, but it's nice that you are willing to donate to a worthy cause. I am at least a year away from sending photons to the Moon. If successful, I would implore you to lend me one for evaluation. If it works out, maybe other hams could arrange something with you. I would want...

I was an Air Force officer's Brat, along with my younger brother. Dad retired to Dayton OH, home of Hamvention, after flying for SAC on the three-man crewed B-47 bombers as their radar navigator/bombardier. He was a bombardier on B-17s during WWII, a POW, and a career officer after VE-Day. So...

Not looking for wide bandwidth. Not (deliberately) using the three arrays of corner-cube retroreflectors. The largest array (A15) has an effective aperture of less than 0.5 m2, useless for communication purposes, but small enough to define its location for, say, Apache Point Observatory Lunar...

Yep. I will coordinate with the FCC, FAA, and Space Force before aiming my 202mm collimated laser beam at the Moon. Space Force in particular would get involved if high power that could damage or disable certain assets in low-earth orbit were involved. I am familiar with the work done at Apache...

I am attempting a proof-of-concept demonstration of so-called "moon bounce" or Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communications at optical frequencies. Hams are allowed to use ANY frequency greater than 275 GHz, with ANY modulation, and the usual 1500 watt power transmission maximum. I will try to use a...

Still learning how to navigate...

Are you avoiding using the lunar retroreflector mirrors on purpose? Yes. What is the loss in optical reflective power for using the retroreflector mirrors vs. just the moon surface dust? It is the fractional ratio of an area of 0.5m2 versus (π)10002m2. I got my "inspiration" for Optical-EME...

Not sure I really belong here. I started out to be physicist but eventually became an electrical engineer. After participating in the summer of 1961 at a Physics Colloquium, held at Western Kentucky State College and sponsored by the National Science Foundation, I was looking forward to my...

I am an 80+ years old ham radio operator (AC8NS) working on a "bucket list" project. Visit optical-eme.groups.io if interested.