We have fabricated high-speed Interband Cascade lasers and provided the first experimental
evidence that these devices can be directly modulated at a frequency of 32 GHz and above This
work has demonstrated suitability of IC lasers as a mid-IR light source for multi-GHz free space
optical communications links

Mid-Infrared Interband Cascade Lasers for Free-Space Laser Communication

The irradiance at an earth satellite platform due to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the earth is considered as a possible source of energy for electrical power conversion. For low earth-orbiting satellites, the potential exits to compete favorably with conventional solar power.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/6180/16502/00763797.pdf

D.C. Crowe

Papers

IR radiation transfer from the earth