1. i-heliostat 6/8 update Amy Whitcombe, Kendall Pletcher, Eric Kolker, Kiefer Hicks

2. Revised SOW Research, design, construct, and test a prototype communication system which modulates sunlight to send information over large distances—such as between the moon and the earth—in a vacuum. This system should be significantly more efficient than traditional laser communication systems.

3. Questions for Steve  What is our budget?  Can we get access to the roof?  Does Olin have a telescope that we can have access to?

4. Questions for Jeff  What will you be giving us?  Is it correct that essentially the only constraint you have on this communication system is that it uses sunlight instead of lasers to transmit a signal?  To what extent do you care about the alignment of the system?  Do you want a proof of concept or a functional transmission system?

5. Progress  Researched current solutions  Researched historical optical communication systems  Generated preliminary ideas, researched feasibility  Electro-optic modulation, Acousto-optic modulation  Pockels cells and kerr cells (optic)  Brag cells (acoustic)  Solar Aldis lamp  Shutters over mirror (req two mirrors?)  Mirrors which compose shutters  Plain ol’ mirror (possibly using speakers to modulate)

6. Acousto-Optic Modulator

7. Solar Aldis Lamp

8. Plain ol’ Mirror

9. The Next Step  We need to set up tests for these ideas to find the most feasible.  Materials we need  Mirrors  Shutter (aldis)  Or Mirrors to make shutters (aldis)  CDs?  Speakers  Pockels cells and kerr cells (electro)  Brag cells (acoustic)  Lamps of different levels of brightness  Lasers (for testing alignment)  Set of physics demo lenses?