Performance Evaluation of UOWC Systems from an Empirical Channel Model Approach for Air Bubble-Induced Scattering.

Underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) systems provide the potential to establish secure high-data-rate communication links in underwater environments. The uniqueness of oceanic impairments, such as absorption, scattering, oceanic turbulence, and air bubbles demands accurate statistical channel models based on empirical measurements for the development of UOWC systems adapted to different types of water and link conditions. Recently, generalized Gamma and a mixture of two generalized Gamma probability density functions (PDF) were proposed to describe the statistical behavior of small and large air bubbles, respectively, when considering several levels of particle-induced scattering.

On the scattering-induced fading for optical wireless links through seawater: statistical characterization and its applications.

Recent research has shown that an accurate underwater channel characterization is necessary for underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) in order to improve its current limitations related to the achievable data rate and the link distance, as required in undersea optical networks. This paper presents a new statistical model to characterize the scattering effect in terms of a fading never considered before. In this way, the probability density function of the scattering-induced fading channel is derived by means of a Gamma distribution by using only one degree of freedom in clear ocean and coastal waters.

Capacity of underwater optical wireless communication systems over salinity-induced oceanic turbulence channels with ISI.

Point-to-point underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) links are mainly impaired by scattering due to impurities and turbidity in the open water, resulting in a significant inter-symbol interference (ISI) that limits seriously both channel capacity and the maximum practical information rate. This paper conducts, for the first time, the channel capacity analysis of UOWC systems in the presence of ISI and salinity-induced oceanic turbulence when the undersea optical channel is accurately modeled by linear discrete-time filtering of the input symbols. In this way, novel upper and lower bounds on channel capacity and mutual information are developed for non-uniform on-off keying (OOK) modulation when different constraints are imposed on the channel input.

Impact of angular pointing error on BER performance of underwater optical wireless links.

Even in clear ocean water, underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) is impaired not only by absorption and scattering, but also by oceanic turbulence and dynamic pointing errors which result in a fading channel, degrading the bit error rate (BER) performance. In this paper, for the first time, we quantify analytically the trade-off between geometric loss and misalignment in underwater scattering channels. A novel geometric loss model is developed which is used to compute the average BER in the presence of absorption and scattering over salinity-induced oceanic turbulence channels.

Secure communication for FSO links in the presence of eavesdropper with generic location and orientation.

When the beam waist at the receiver is significantly larger than the receiver size, free-space optical (FSO) links may be vulnerable to some optical tapping risks at the physical layer. In this paper, we conduct a new framework for the analysis of the secrecy performance in terms of the secrecy outage probability (SOP) of FSO systems affected by gamma-gamma (GG) turbulence-induced fading channels with pointing errors. As a key feature, we evaluate the SOP in the presence of an external eavesdropper with generic location and orientation.

Novel approximation of misalignment fading modeled by Beckmann distribution on free-space optical links.

A novel accurate and useful approximation of the well-known Beckmann distribution is presented here, which is used to model generalized pointing errors in the context of free-space optical (FSO) communication systems. We derive an approximate closed-form probability density function (PDF) for the composite gamma-gamma (GG) atmospheric turbulence with the pointing error model using the proposed approximation of the Beckmann distribution, which is valid for most practical terrestrial FSO links. This approximation takes into account the effect of the beam width, different jitters for the elevation and the horizontal displacement and the simultaneous effect of nonzero boresight errors for each axis at the receiver plane.

Impact of nonzero boresight pointing error on ergodic capacity of MIMO FSO communication systems.

A thorough investigation of the impact of nonzero boresight pointing errors on the ergodic capacity of multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) free-space optical (FSO) systems with equal gain combining (EGC) reception under different turbulence models, which are modeled as statistically independent, but not necessarily identically distributed (i.n.i.

Novel space-time trellis codes for free-space optical communications using transmit laser selection.

In this paper, the deployment of novel space-time trellis codes (STTCs) with transmit laser selection (TLS) for free-space optical (FSO) communication systems using intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) over atmospheric turbulence and misalignment fading channels is presented. Combining TLS and STTC with rate 1 bit/(s · Hz), a new code design criterion based on the use of the largest order statistics is here proposed for multiple-input/single-output (MISO) FSO systems in order to improve the diversity order gain by properly chosing the transmit lasers out of the available L lasers. Based on a pairwise error probability (PEP) analysis, closed-form asymptotic bit error-rate (BER) expressions in the range from low to high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are derived when the irradiance of the transmitted optical beam is susceptible to moderate-to-strong turbulence conditions, following a gamma-gamma (GG) distribution, and pointing error effects, following a misalignment fading model where the effect of beam width, detector size and jitter variance is considered.

On the capacity of MISO FSO systems over gamma-gamma and misalignment fading channels.

In this work, the ergodic capacity performance for multiple-input/single-output (MISO) free-space optical (FSO) communications system with equal gain combining (EGC) reception is analyzed over gamma-gamma and misalignment fading channels, which are modeled as statistically independent, but not necessarily identically distributed (i.n.i.

Ergodic capacity analysis for DF strategies in cooperative FSO systems.

This paper focuses on the ergodic capacity analysis in the context of cooperative free-space optical (FSO) systems when the line of sight is available. Novel asymptotic closed-form expressions for the ergodic capacity corresponding to two different decode-and-forward (DF) strategies are obtained for a cooperative FSO communication system. Here, the atmospheric turbulence is modeled by a gamma-gamma distribution of parameters α and β which allows to study a wide range of turbulence conditions (moderate-to-strong) as well as the effect of the misalignment with zero boresight.

Impact of relay placement on diversity order in adaptive selective DF relay-assisted FSO communications.

The impact of relay placement on diversity order in adaptive selective decode-and-forward (DF) cooperative strategies is here investigated in the context of free-space optical (FSO) communications over atmospheric turbulence channels with pointing errors when line of sight is available. The irradiance of the transmitted optical beam here considered is susceptible to moderate-to-strong turbulence conditions, following a gamma-gamma (GG) distribution together with a misalignment fading model where the effect of beam width, detector size and jitter variance is considered. Novel closed-form approximate bit error-rate (BER) expressions are obtained for a cooperative FSO communication setup with N relays, assuming that these relays are located in an area similar to an annulus around source or destination node.

Transmit alternate laser selection with time diversity for FSO communications.

In this paper, a new transmit alternate laser selection (TALS) scheme for FSO communication systems using intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) over atmospheric turbulence and misalignment fading channels is presented when limited time diversity is available in the turbulent channel. Assuming channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter and receiver and a time diversity order (TDO) limited, we propose the transmit diversity technique based on the rotating selection of TDO out of the available L lasers corresponding to the optical paths with greater values of scintillation. Implementing repetition coding with blocks of TDO information bits, each information bit will be retransmitted TDO times using the TDO largest order statistics in an alternating way.

Adaptive selective relaying in cooperative free-space optical systems over atmospheric turbulence and misalignment fading channels.

In this paper, a novel adaptive cooperative protocol with multiple relays using detect-and-forward (DF) over atmospheric turbulence channels with pointing errors is proposed. The adaptive DF cooperative protocol here analyzed is based on the selection of the optical path, source-destination or different source-relay links, with a greater value of fading gain or irradiance, maintaining a high diversity order. Closed-form asymptotic bit error-rate (BER) expressions are obtained for a cooperative free-space optical (FSO) communication system with Nr relays, when the irradiance of the transmitted optical beam is susceptible to either a wide range of turbulence conditions, following a gamma-gamma distribution of parameters α and β, or pointing errors, following a misalignment fading model where the effect of beam width, detector size and jitter variance is considered.

Improved BDF relaying scheme using time diversity over atmospheric turbulence and misalignment fading channels.

A novel bit-detect-and-forward (BDF) relaying scheme based on repetition coding with the relay is proposed, significantly improving the robustness to impairments proper to free-space optical (FSO) communications such as unsuitable alignment between transmitter and receiver as well as fluctuations in the irradiance of the transmitted optical beam due to the atmospheric turbulence. Closed-form asymptotic bit-error-rate (BER) expressions are derived for a 3-way FSO communication setup. Fully exploiting the potential time-diversity available in the relay turbulent channel, a relevant better performance is achieved, showing a greater robustness to the relay location since a high diversity gain is provided regardless of the source-destination link distance.

Asymptotic error-rate analysis of FSO links using transmit laser selection over gamma-gamma atmospheric turbulence channels with pointing errors.

Since free-space optical (FSO) systems are usually installed on high buildings and building sway may cause vibrations in the transmitted beam, an unsuitable alignment between transmitter and receiver together with fluctuations in the irradiance of the transmitted optical beam due to the atmospheric turbulence can severely degrade the performance of optical wireless communication systems. In this paper, asymptotic bit error-rate (BER) performance for FSO communication systems using transmit laser selection over atmospheric turbulence channels with pointing errors is analyzed. Novel closed-form asymptotic expressions are derived when the irradiance of the transmitted optical beam is susceptible to either a wide range of turbulence conditions (weak to strong), following a gamma-gamma distribution of parameters α and β, or pointing errors, following a misalignment fading model where the effect of beam width, detector size and jitter variance is considered.

Outage performance of MIMO FSO links over strong turbulence and misalignment fading channels.

Atmospheric turbulence produces fluctuations in the irradiance of the transmitted optical beam, which is known as atmospheric scintillation, severely degrading the performance over free-space optical (FSO) links. Additionally, since FSO systems are usually installed on high buildings, building sway causes vibrations in the transmitted beam, leading to an unsuitable alignment between transmitter and receiver and, hence, a greater deterioration in performance. In this paper, the outage probability as a performance measure for multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) FSO communication systems with intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) over strong atmospheric turbulence channels with pointing errors is analyzed.

Rate-adaptive FSO links over atmospheric turbulence channels by jointly using repetition coding and silence periods.

In this paper, a new and simple rate-adaptive transmission scheme for free-space optical (FSO) communication systems with intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) over atmospheric turbulence channels is analyzed. This scheme is based on the joint use of repetition coding and variable silence periods, exploiting the potential time-diversity order (TDO) available in the turbulent channel as well as allowing the increase of the peak-to-average optical power ratio (PAOPR). Here, repetition coding is firstly used in order to accommodate the transmission rate to the channel conditions until the whole time diversity order available in the turbulent channel by interleaving is exploited.

Average capacity of FSO links with transmit laser selection using non-uniform OOK signaling over exponential atmospheric turbulence channels.

A new upper bound on the capacity of power- and bandwidth-constrained optical wireless links using selection transmit diversity over exponential atmospheric turbulence channels with intensity modulation and direct detection is derived when non-uniform on-off keying (OOK) formats are used. In this strong turbulence free-space optical (FSO) scenario, average capacity is investigated subject to an average optical power constraint and not only to an average electrical power constraint when the transmit diversity technique assumed is based on the selection of the optical path with a greater value of irradiance. Simulation results for the mutual information are further demonstrated to confirm the analytical results for different diversity orders.

Space-time trellis coding with transmit laser selection for FSO links over strong atmospheric turbulence channels.

Atmospheric turbulence produces fluctuations in the irradiance of the transmitted optical beam, which is known as atmospheric scintillation, severely degrading the link performance. In this paper, a scheme combining transmit laser selection (TLS) and space-time trellis code (STTC) for multiple-input-single-output (MISO) free-space optical (FSO) communication systems with intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) over strong atmospheric turbulence channels is analyzed. Assuming channel state information at the transmitter and receiver, we propose the transmit diversity technique based on the selection of two out of the available L lasers corresponding to the optical paths with greater values of scintillation to transmit the baseline STTCs designed for two transmit antennas.