Experimental evaluation of a misalignment tolerant FSO receiver

Stephen Pondelik; Peter G. LoPresti; Hazem Refai

doi:10.1117/12.849953

4 May 2010 Experimental evaluation of a misalignment tolerant FSO receiver

Stephen Pondelik, Peter G. LoPresti, Hazem Refai

Proceedings Volume 7685, Atmospheric Propagation VII; 76850B (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.849953
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2010, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

In order to track, acquire and maintain a free-space optical link between mobile platforms experiencing misalignment due to movement and atmospheric turbulence requires a different approach than traditional free-space optical transceivers. Recent investigations of alternative receiver configurations found that a lens array performed better than a collimator array as a light collector, and compared methods for summing light collected from different lenses in the array. This paper reports on experimental investigations of receiver performance for a coupling lens array at the front end and an aspheric-lens based summing approach at the back end. The receiver performance is evaluated using two different transmission systems, including a SONET bit-error-rate tester. Key evaluation parameters include the received power and achieved bit-error rate. Measurements are made under perfect alignment and under a variety of misalignment conditions. The investigation finds that size of the lenses used in the array, which dictates the number of collecting fibers used, impacts the effectiveness of the receiver and of the summing approach. Both a single lens and multiple lens solution are evaluated for implementing the summing function. Optimization of the summing optics is required for the receiver to be effective for high data rate communication.

Citation Download Citation

Stephen Pondelik, Peter G. LoPresti, and Hazem Refai "Experimental evaluation of a misalignment tolerant FSO receiver", Proc. SPIE 7685, Atmospheric Propagation VII, 76850B (4 May 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.849953

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