Investigation on the influence of intensity scintillation and beam wander in space optical uplink DWDM communication system

Abstract

Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) has been widely applied in ground optical communication. However, the technology of DWDM is still not mature enough in the space optical communication system. In order to further advance the use of DWDM into space optical communication, the probability density function (PDF) and the bit-error rate (BER) performance of DWDM is investigated in uplink communications under the influence of atmospheric turbulence, consisting of intensity scintillation and beam wander caused by atmospheric turbulence. Numerical results show that the atmospheric turbulence has a great impact on BER and PDF, and wavelength, divergence angel, and other relevant parameters should be carefully considered in this DWDM system. This work can be conducive for improving DWDM design of space optical uplink communication systems.     

基于轴锥镜对的高光能利用率激光通信天线性能分析

提出一种增加轴锥镜对的同轴反射式光学结构激光发射天线方案,通过对入射光束的光强重新排布,降低同轴反射式结构固有的中心遮拦造成的能量损失,提高光能利用率.运用衍射光学原理分析并模拟了单色高斯光束经过轴锥镜对后传播至天线光阑平面处的光场分布,比较了普通同轴反射式天线和高光能利用率天线在不同入射光束腰半径、不同线遮拦比下的发射光能利用率.结果表明:高光能利用率天线在线遮拦比0.1和0.25的情况下,通过合理调整入射光束腰大小,光能利用率分别可达到99%和96%以上,远高于传统的同轴反射式天线.分析了高光能利用率天线发射光束的远场光强分布,发现其进入接收天线口径内的光场可近似为平顶分布.     

Multi-channel 2-D pattern transfer model based on imaging optics for submarine laser uplink communication

An optical communication scheme of 2-D pattern transfer based on imaging optics for submarine laser uplink communication (SLUC) is suggested. Unlike the methods aiming at avoiding neighboring crosstalk used in traditional multi-channel optical beam transferring, we make full use of the overlapping of each spreading beam other than controlling divergence effect of each beam to avoid interference noise. The apparent parameters have been introduced to simplify theoretical analysis of optical pattern transfer problem involving underwater condition, with the help of which the complex beam propagation inside two kinds of mediums can be easily reduced to brief beam transfer only inside air medium. In this paper, optical transmission path and receiver terminal optics geometry have been described in detail. The link range equation and system uplink performance analysis have also been given. At last, results of a proof-of-concept experiment indicate good feasibility of the proposed SLUC model.     

Relevance of continuously self-imaging gratings for noise robust imagery

We have designed miniaturized, simple, and robust cameras composed of a single diffractive optical element (DOE) that generates a continuously self-imaging (CSI) beam. Two different DOEs are explored: the J₀ Bessel transmittance, characterized by a continuous optical transfer function (OTF) and the CSI grating (CSIG), characterized by a sparse OTF. In this Letter, we will analyze the properties of both DOEs in terms of radiometric performances. We will demonstrate that the noise robustness is enhanced for a CSIG, thanks to the sparsity of its OTF. A camera using this DOE has been made and experimental images are presented to illustrate the noise robustness.     

一种基于离轴椭球面的小光程差波面整形系统

为了实现空间中一定距离的近似等光程光束传输,设计了一种包含离轴椭球面反射镜的波面整形系统。基于几何光学与初级像差理论,结合Zemax光学设计软件,分析了椭球面反射镜圆锥系数、离轴量对像面处光程差的影响;设计了平面-椭球面反射镜和双椭球面反射镜2种光学结构的波面整形系统,并比较了2种结构的公差。分析结果表明:平面-椭球面反射系统和双椭球面反射系统均实现了空间中1 m距离的光束传输,且2种结构系统在3 mm物高视场和孔径角为6°条件下,各视场光瞳之间的光程差分别为0.14 mm和0.04 mm,因此,双椭球面反射结构整形效果优于平面-椭球面反射系统,但双椭球面反射结构对公差的敏感度更高。     

振动对星间相干激光通信的影响

针对星间相干激光通信中卫星平台的振动造成发射天线和接收天线的瞄准角误差，使系统信号信噪比下降，误码率 (BER)增加，该文以瑞利分布作为振动造成的瞄准角误差模型，结合高斯本振光和艾里信号光外差检测模型，以PSK零差通信体制为例分析卫星振动对系统的瞬时误码率和平均误码率的影响，给出误码率仿真计算结果。指出接收天线瞄准角误差对星间光通信质量影响很大，在瞄准角误差的标准偏差σ小于1μrad范围内，系统误码率小于10^-6。     

Bit error rate analysis of MISO FSO systems

Abstract

Multiple-input single-output (MISO) systems are employed in free space optical (FSO) links to mitigate the degrading effects of atmospheric turbulence. In this paper, we consider a MISO FSO system with practical transmitter and receiver configuration that consists of radial laser array with Gaussian beams and a Gaussian receiver aperture function. We have employed our previously derived formulation of the power scintillation in which Huygens–Fresnel principle was employed. Therefore, we choose system parameters within the range of validity of the wave structure functions. Using the on-off keying modulation and the log-normal probability distribution function, we quantify the average bit error rate (〈BER〉) of laser array beams in weak turbulence. It is observed that the radial array beams at the transmitter are more advantageous than the single Gaussian beam. However, increasing the number of array beamlets to more than three seems to have negligible effects on 〈BER〉 . It is further observed that 〈BER〉 decreases when the source size, the ring radius and the receiver aperture radius increase.     

Analysis of space off-axis and performance of Cassegrain optical antenna system

The research of optical antenna is of greatest importance in the field of modern optical communication. For optical antenna, alignment of optical system is a significant factor, which influences the transmission quality of optical antenna system. Antenna off-axis is one of the important factors influencing the transmission quality of optical antenna system. In this paper, we analyze and numerically simulate how power attenuation ratio and gain of Cassegrain antenna vary with the antenna deflection angle and the distance that the central axis of receiving antenna deviates from z-axis, when space off-axis happens to the system. Finally, the coupling efficiency of Cassegrain antenna is tested experimentally, and the results show that the coupling efficiency of the Cassegrain antenna dramatically reduces in the case of off-axis. These studies provide a theoretical basis for optical antenna system to achieve accurate alignment in optical communication.     

Optical clock distribution with a compact free space interconnect system

Optical clock signal distribution has been widely discussed to be an attractive way to reduce the clock skew in high-speed digital systems. For short interconnect lengths, especially for chip level clock distribution, free space systems using diffractive optical elements (DOEs) have specific advantages. The optoelectronic pathway described in this paper consists of a GaAs laser diode, a microetched silicon mirror, a faceted diffractive element and four silicon photodiodes hybridized to a (dummy) silicon chip. The key element of the clock distribution demonstrator is the diffractive element which matches setup requirements like compactness, off-axis geometry and use of an unshaped laser beam. The whole setup meets the demands of alignment accuracy in an excellent way. This is achieved by the very good imaging characteristic of the DOE and by an alignment technique based on precision mounting of micromachined silicon components. The system was tested with clock rates up to 2.5 GHz, the cut-off frequency is 350 MHz.     

Isotropic compensation of diffraction-driven angular dispersion

We report on an optical arrangement capable of compensating angular dispersion of paraxial wave fields developed by diffractive optical elements (DOEs). Schematically, the system is a beam expander in which two phase-only zone plates have been inserted, remaining afocal the coupled system. The DOE, which induces a continuous set of dispersive tilted plane waves, is placed at a specific position within the proposed setup providing an output spectrum with achromatic angular deviation. A directional matching between phase fronts and pulse fronts of output wave packets is demonstrated.     

Excimer laser patterned dielectric masks for the fabrication of diffractive optical elements by laser ablation

Masks for laser processing are generated by laser ablation patterning of dielectric layer systems. The application of these masks for the rapid fabrication of diffractive optical elements (DOEs) is presented. The diffractive optical elements are designed as phase-only elements, assuming an illumination with a plane wave. A continuous phase function is calculated using an iterative Fourier transform algorithm (IFTA). This continuous phase function is reduced to two or four levels by an iterative Fourier quantisation algorithm (IFQA) that is able to include focal power. The fabrication of the DOE is performed in a two-step process. First, a binary amplitude mask (or a set of masks for multi-level DOEs) is made by structured ablation of a highly reflective dielectric coating (HR 248 nm) from a fused silica substrate. This is accomplished by using an ArF excimer laser emitting at 193 nm, a wavelength that is sufficiently absorbed in the HfO₂/SiO₂-dielectric layer system, leading to precisely ablated mask structures. In the second step, this mask is used in a 4:1 projection configuration to generate a surface profile in a polymer substrate by ablation at 248 nm. The depth modulation can be defined by adjusting laser fluence and pulse number. Examples of DOEs ablated in polycarbonate are shown and their performance is characterised.     

利用边缘相位校正实现光束整形的高精度优化

提出利用边缘相位校正的新方法,校正用追迹法设计的产生环形光束的衍射光学元件的相位分布,从而实现光束整形中的高精度优化。通过将高斯光束整形为环形光束,将该方法、G-S(Gerchberg-Saxton)算法和改进的G-S算法设计得到的整形结果作了比较,结果表明,G-S算法的整形结果虽然衍射效率最大,但是均方根值和最大偏差也太大;改进的G-S算法可以有效的降低均方根值和最大偏差,但衍射效率也有较大的下降;而用边缘相位校正可以在衍射效率略微下降的情况下,更大的降低均方根值和最大偏差,其整形结果是综合了衍射效率、均方根值和最大偏差这三个评价指标以后得到的最优化结果,已接近理想的环形光束。     

Scintillation characterization for multiple incoherent uplink Gaussian beams

By means of numerical simulations, we analyze the scintillation characterization for multiple incoherent uplink Gaussian beams under weak fluctuations cases. Because truly independent beams are difficult to create, we present a more general but approximate model for the multiple of beams traveling through partially correlated paths. This model compares with wave-optics simulations and highlights the reduced correlation coefficient as the beam separation is increased. The scintillation index of three and six incoherent uplink Gaussian beams is also induced. The result shows that the scintillation index decreases with the increase of beams amount and beam separation. When the beams amount and strength of atmospheric turbulence are fixed, the reduction of scintillation index is affected by the ratio of beams separation and the Fried length. The corresponding physical mechanisms for the results are discussed.     

Ultra-broadband indoor optical wireless communication system with multimode fiber

In this paper we experimentally demonstrate an ultra-broadband indoor full-duplex WDM optical wireless communication system with multimode fiber. The multimode fiber is used because it is employed in most of the already installed in-building fiber distribution networks. Simultaneous error-free (BER<10(-9)) transmission of 4×12.5 Gbps downlink and 800 Mbps uplink has been successfully demonstrated. The experimental results show that, although the use of multimode fiber will induce ~2.4 cm reduction in the maximum error-free beam footprint in the downlink, the bit rate of the uplink can be much higher compared to the system with single-mode fiber.     

Atmospheric turbulence and numerical evaluation of bit error rate (BER) in free-space communication

Bit error rate (BER) is an important parameter in free-space optical (FSO) communication. This paper presents the numerical evaluation of BER by studying the propagation of an initial Gaussian laser beam through turbulent atmosphere. Beam scintillation, spreading and wandering were considered as the atmospheric turbulent effects on the laser beam degradation. Different turbulent conditions and laser beam characteristics were applied to the calculations. The results show that the BER can be influenced considerably by atmospheric turbulence. According to these results the laser beam size and wavelength have also significant effects in the BER values.     

Modeling and simulation of FBG based OCDMA-IsOWC system

Photonics have evolved from protracted fibers to dominant wireless system to look at the use of hybrid optical-wireless communication system into space technology. Inter-satellite optical wireless communication (IsOWC) systems, one of the important applications of optical-wireless communication, will be deployed in space in the near future. A significant improvement in BER at 5 Gbps is achieved along with the maximum length of ISL link between the two satellites by incorporating OFDM scheme in IsOWC systems than that of conventional IsOWC systems [9]. The work is further extended in this paper to prolong the ISL link with acceptable BER at 10 Gbps between two satellites in space by employing code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme due to its robustness against narrowband interference and an inherent low power spectral density. In this work, we have designed a model of FBG based CDMA-IsOWC system to establish a prolonged ISL link at data rate of 10 Gbps with SNR of 20 dB. Further, a comparison is also reported between our proposed FBG based CDMA-IsOWC system and OFDM-IsOWC system.     

Design of millimeter-wave fiber-wireless downlink with remote local-oscillator delivery by using dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulators configured for optical single-sideband modulations

An optical fiber-wireless system operating in millimeter-wave (MMW) bands may include numerous optical remote access points (RAPs) of which the cost is critical to implement such systems in real market. In this paper, we design an optical fiber communication system for MMW optical fiber downlink transmission with remote MMW local-oscillator (LO) delivery for intermediate frequency (IF) fiber uplink transmission. The new design is based on two dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulators in parallel both configured for optical single-sideband modulations. By using the proposed design, a conventional RAP can be simplified in structure to reduce the cost. Our numerical results show that, with the proposed design, 1-Gbit/s binary-phase-shift-keying (BPSK) data at a 42-GHz sub-carrier frequency can be transmitted over a 20-km standard single-mode optical fiber followed by a wireless transmission of several kilometers. Moreover, a MMW LO at 37-GHz frequency can be remotely delivered over tens of kilometers of a standard single-mode fiber with acceptable deterioration in the LO phase noise for IF uplink fiber transmission.     

Mixed multi-region design of diffractive optical element for projection exposure system

The diffractive optical element (DOE) is widely used to generate various illumination modes in the projection lithography system. The working principle and design methods of the DOE are discussed in detail in this paper. A mixed multi-region design method is proposed to calculate the phase of DOE based on the poor spatial coherence of excimer laser, using the Gerchberg–Saxton (GS) algorithm. The DOEs generating circular, dipole and quadrupole illumination modes are designed and simulated by three different methods: single region design, repeated multi-region design and mixed multi-region design. The performance of these DOEs are compared and analyzed with these three design methods. The mixed multi-region design method is used to design the DOEs generating three illumination modes, the diffraction efficiencies are greater than 85%, and the non-uniformities of illumination are less than 3%. The analysis results indicate that the DOE designed by the mixed multi-region design can achieve higher diffraction efficiency and illumination uniformity of the far-field intensity distribution without modifying the GS algorithm.     

Linearization and dispersion tolerable technique for remote access unit in uplink RoF system based on gain-saturated RSOA cascaded EAM

A novel scheme of a remote access unit which is based on an electroabsorption modulator cascaded by a gain-saturated reflective semiconductor optical amplifier is proposed to improve a transmission performance of uplink signal. The cascaded gain-saturated reflective semiconductor optical amplifier plays a role in enhancing linearity of the electroabsorption modulator as well as suppressing dispersion-induced carrier suppression in the uplink transmission using its nonlinear gain property. In the proposed scheme, carrier-to-interference ratio of transmitted 10-GHz band uplink signal was improved by 10.7 dB and the dispersion-induced carrier suppression of 5.65-GHz RF carrier was greatly mitigated by 33.4 dB through the 75.6-km optical link.     

Simplified mesh techniques for design of beam-shaping diffractive optical elements

This paper describes a simplified mesh generation technique that is based on the finite element method of calculation of beam-shaping diffractive optical elements (DOEs). The mesh generation technique uses the inherent symmetry of the incident beam to generate a mesh. Using the meshes so generated, DOEs that convert a Gaussian intensity beam to one of a specified shape, are calculated. Simulations of the results of such beam-shaping elements will be presented. Such elements have uses in industrial and medical applications where both the shape as well as the intensity distribution on the material that is to be processed is very important. For example, in industrial applications the beam may be used to uniformly heat up a specific area in which case the intensity has to be uniform across the beam. The Gaussian intensity variation of a laser has to be converted to a flat-top beam in order to achieve this. To reiterate, beam shaping refers to changing both the intensity distribution and the shape of the beam. Experimental results of the fabricated gratings will also be presented. These results will include experimental data on the method of additive lithography which can be used to improve the efficiency of DOEs.