KEYWORDS: Free space optics, Antennas, Dense wavelength division multiplexing, Radio over Fiber, Modulation, Atmospheric optics, Radio optics, Televisions, Optical amplifiers, Single mode fibers
In this paper we present the design concept plus experimental results and evaluation of a newly developed
advanced DWDM Radio-on-Free-Space Optical (RoFSO) communication system capable of simultaneous transmission
of multiple RF signals. The RoFSO system is evaluated based on the performance metric parameters
defined for the various RF signals comprising of different wireless services including terrestrial digital broadcasting
signals, cellular 3GPP W-CDMA signals, IEEE 802.11 WLAN based signals etc being transmitted over the
RoFSO link. The performance metric parameters being considered include standard optical received power, CNR
and BER characteristics, W-CDMA signal transmission metric parameters like Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio
(ACLR) and Error Vector Magnitude (EVM), modulation error ratio (MER) for digital terrestrial television
broadcasting signals as well as spectrum mask and EVM for IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN signal transmission.
This paper firstly derives a new model of RoFSO (Radio on Free Space Optics) channel considering fluctuation speed of
the scintillation and the probability density function (p.d.f) of the random and time-correlated optical intensity disturbed
by scintillation. The relationships among frequency characteristic of RoFSO channel, variance of received optical
intensity and atmospheric conditions (temperature and insolation) are statistically analyzed by the proposed model. By
using the proposed model and the relationships, the throughput performance of WLAN (802.11a) over RoFSO link is
evaluated with computer simulations. For two cases of without-shadowing and with-shadowing in the radio propagation
channel, evaluations of degradation due to scintillation are conducted. As a result, it is found that the degradation due to
scintillation is much smaller than that due to shadowing in the throughput performance for WLAN.
Radio on Free-Space Optics (RoFSO) communication systems have attracted a considerable attention for a variety of
applications where optical fibers are not feasible, especially in rural areas, to provide ubiquitous wireless services
quickly and more effectively. RoFSO links can be used to transmit signals like cellular W-CDMA, terrestrial digital TV
or WLAN signals. In spite of its potential, such links are highly dependent on the deployment environment
characteristics in particular the weather conditions. Severity and duration of the atmospheric effects have direct impact
on the availability of the links as well as on the quality of RF signal transmitted over it. Thus, the necessity of
investigating the effects of various weather conditions on RF signal transmission using FSO links.
In collaboration with several institutions, we are currently developing an advanced Dense Wavelength Division
Multiplexing (DWDM) RoFSO antenna capable of transporting multiple RF signals. As preliminary work, we are
conducting experiments on a 1 km link using an off-the-shelf Radio Frequency - FSO (RF-FSO) antenna, with the
objective of obtaining and characterizing performance related parameters of RF-FSO transmission in operational
environment. As an example, we examine the influence of atmospheric turbulence on the transmission quality of W-CDMA
signal. Among the performance metric of interest is the Adjacent Channel Leakage Power Ratio (ACLR) which
will be measured, analyzed and correlated with the weather conditions. An atmospheric fluctuation model for estimating
the communication quality of RF signal transmission on FSO links is being developed. Also the obtained results will be
used for the deployment environment characterization as well as baseline for the design and performance evaluation of
new advanced DWDM RoFSO communication systems we are currently developing.
We present initial results on research and development of an optical antenna module suitable for Radio-on Free-Space
Optics (RoFSO) links. This new optical communication system is envisaged to be an effective means of realizing a
ubiquitous society and therefore eliminating the digital divide. The RoFSO system is a trial system applying Radio on
Fiber (RoF) technology for transmission through free space. Based on the results of research of next generation high-speed
free-space optical communication system conducted in the past two years at Waseda University, we have
developed an optical antenna module with efficient laser receiving characteristics as well as simple adjustment. The
tracking system adopts two phases including rough tracking by the beacon light at 0.85 μm wavelength and fine tracking
using communication light at 1.55 μm wavelength to improve compensation precision for the atmospheric turbulence at
the time of beam propagation. We present results on the evaluation of performance characteristics (static characteristics)
of the separate functions for RoFSO antenna module we have developed and confirmed the coupling efficiency and fine
tracking characteristics which were set as goals at the beginning.
It is envisioned that the next generation of ultrahigh-speed laser communication systems will utilize compact optical antennas equipped with advanced beam tracking and effective fiber coupling mechanisms. Such laser communication systems will be used not only for space communications but also to provide optical links for long-distance terrestrial communications. We present the design of a high-speed laser communication system developed utilizing compact optical antennas with off-axis free-form surface (FFS) mirrors. We describe FFS optical devices and their design contribution in realizing compact optical antennas. Furthermore, an innovative fiber coupling device made from a glass ferrule and fiber is introduced, and with this device it is possible to couple the laser beam seamlessly to a single-mode fiber. We also present a fine tracking mechanism that uses a miniature fine pointing mirror (FPM) incorporated in the antenna. The machanism functions by feeding back the incident angle of the signal detected by a quadrant detector (QD) to the FPM. The achievable actuator response frequency for tracking is approximately 2 kHz, and it has been demonstrated to effectively mitigate the effects of laser beam angle-of-arrival fluctuation as a result of atmospheric turbulence.
Free-space optical communication has emerged as a competitive and viable technology for offering high data
rates, improved capacity, cost-effective and an easy to deploy solution for providing connectivity between two
points which are up to a few kilometers apart. In this paper we present experimental work which demonstrates
the practicality of next generation free-space optical (FSO) communication systems suitable for short-haul,
high-speed and robust data links. This experimental system is placed between two buildings in the Waseda
University campus area for a communication link spanning a distance of 1 km.
We outline the design of the optical antenna which uses 1550 nm wavelength and directly coupling a freespace
optical beam to a single-mode fiber without the need for OE/EO conversion, to offer a communication
link with data rates from 2.5 Gbps to 10 Gbps. The antenna is capable of overcoming most common limitations
inherent in FSO communication systems, such as atmospheric induced beam wander and scintillation effects. A
high-speed tracking mechanism which utilizes a fine positioning mirror (FPM) capable of tracking and controlling
the received beam and focusing/steering most of beam power into the fiber is presented. This FPM is capable
of suppressing the frequent power fluctuations caused by beam angle-of-arrival (AOA) variations.
This paper presents experimental results of the FSO communication system capable offering stable performance
in terms of measured bit-error-rate (BER). Performance results showing increasing the systems data rate
from 2.5 Gbps to 10 Gpbs are also presented.
When a free-space optical beam propagates through the atmosphere it experiences deterioration and deformation of its wave-front caused from small scale, randomly localized changes in the atmospheric index of refraction. This results in beam wander and scintillation effects which can reduce the link availability and may introduce burst errors. This paper outlines experimental work on a free-space optical (FSO) communication system which connects an optical beam directly to a single-mode fiber (SMF) without any optical-to-electrical (O-E) conversion. In order to effectively couple the 1550 nm transmitted optical beam to a SMF it is necessary to be able to track and control the beam angle-of-arrival (AOA) changes. To achieve this, we have developed an optical antenna which uses a fine positioning mirror (FPM) capable of performing high-speed beam tracking and steering thus reducing to a great extent the optical power fluctuations of the received beam coupled to the SMF. This optical power fluctuation is partly a result of beam angle-of-arrival fluctuations caused by atmospheric turbulence. In our experiments we have tried to measure and quantify the magnitude of atmospheric turbulence experienced by an optical beam propagating through the atmosphere. First we demonstrate the relation between the AOA fluctuations and the frequency characteristics of the scintillation effects for a free-space optical beam propagating through a turbulent atmosphere. We use this information to determine the optimum antenna FPM tracking speed for improved performance and error free transmission. The results in the improved fiber received power as well as continuous error free transmission are presented.
Next generation laser communication systems will require small optical antennas and fine tracking system. Such optical communication systems might be applied not only to space communications such as optical feeder links, intersatellite links and stratospheric platforms but also optical links for long distance communication on the ground. We have developed a high-speed laser communication system including a small optical antenna which utilizes off-axis free form surface optical system, and a fine tracking system which feeds back an incident angle signal detected by
quadrant detector to a small fine positioning mirror. In particular, the available mirror actuator response frequency for tracking is approximately 2kHz. Accordingly, even though the received 1.5μm laser beam experiences angle-of-arrival fluctuation as a result of atmospheric turbulence the antenna with this fine tracking function has a capability coupling the laser beam directly to the single mode fiber.
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