Free-Space Optical (FSO)

Communications Employing Binary

Polarization Shift Keying (2PolSK)
Coherent Modulation in
Atmospheric Turbulence Channel
Xuan Tang
1
, Prof. Z. Ghassemlooy
1
and Dr. C. G. Lee
2

1: Optical Communications Research Group, NCRLab, Northumbria University,
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2: Department of Electronic Engineering, Chosun University, S. Korea
Email: xuan.tang@unn.ac.uk, z.ghassemlooy@unn.ac.uk, c.ghiu.lee@ieee.org
6.5 dB/km 150 dB/km 225 dB/km
FSO Challenging
The laser beam propagating through the
FSO channel suffers from the atmospheric
turbulence induced fading [1];
Turbulence leads to random fluctuations
in the direction, intensity and phase of
the laser beam carrying the information
[2];
It has been experimentally verified that
polarization is less sensitive to the
turbulence fluctuation experienced by the
laser beam propagating through the
channel [3].
1. Iniguez, R.R., Idrus, S.M., and Sun, Z.: 'Atmospheric transmission limitations, in Optical Wireless Communications - IR for Wireless Connectivity', 2008, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, London, pp.
25 42
2. Pratt, W.K.: 'Atmospheric propagation', in Ballard, S.S. (Ed.): 'Laser communication systems' (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,1969,), pp. 128 - 144
3. Saleh, A.A.M.: 'An investigation of laser wave depolarization due to atmospheric transmission', IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, June 1967. 3, (6), pp. 256
Why choose PolSK?
AM Disadvantages
Requires adaptive thresholding scheme to perform optimally in the presence of
turbulence [1];
PM Disadvantages
Highly sensitive to the phase noise;
Requires a complex synchronization [2];
FM Disadvantages
Bandwidth inefficient;
Inferior BER performance compared to PM in the additive white Gaussian noise
(AWGN) channel [3];
Alternative solution PolSK
High immunity to the laser phase noise [3];
Maintains SOPs over a long propagation link [4];
Doesnt suffer from excess frequency chirp generated by the all-optical processing
devices [3];
Attractive for the peak power limited systems because its a constant envelope
modulation [4].
1. Popoola, W.O. and Ghassemlooy Z.: 'BPSK subcarrier intensity modulated free-space optical communications in atmospheric turbulence', Journal of Lightwave Technology, 15 April 2009, 27, (8),
pp. 967 973
2. Betti, S., Marchis G.D., and Iannone E.: 'Coherent systems: structure and ideal performance', in Chang K. (Ed.): 'Coherent optical communications systems' (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995), pp.
242 313
3. Chi, N., et al.: 'Generation and transmission performance of 40 Gbit/s polarisation shift keying signal', Electronics Letters, 28 April 2005, 41, (9), pp. 547 -549
4. Zhao, X.: 'Circle polarization shift keying with direct detection for free-space optical communication', Optical Communications and Networking September 2009, 1, (4), pp. 307-312
x
y
V
b
V
a

V
match
(DC ONLY)
LO
LPF
E
lo
(t)
E
r
(t)
PD BPF
Sampler
2PolSK System
(No Spatial Diversity)
LD, laser diode;
PC, polarization controller;
PS, polarizing beam splitter;
LO, local oscillator;
PD, photo detector;
BPF, bandpass filter;
LPF, lowpass filter.
P
r,lo
: signal power

r.lo
: angular frequencies

r,lo
: phase noises
m(t): the binary information
( )
{ }
{ } y P x P e t E
y P x e P e t E
lo lo
t t i
lo
r
t i
r
t t i
r
lo lo
s s
+ =
+ =
| + e
O | + e
2 / 2 / ) (
2 / 2 / ) (
)) ( (
)) ( (
V(t)
Data 01001110
Symbol 1
Symbol 0
LD PC
PS
PM
a
1
a
1
E
lo
(t)
E
r1
(t)
E
x1
(t)
E
y1
(t)
Sampler
a
2
a
2
E
lo
(t)
E
r2
(t)
E
x2
(t)
E
y2
(t)
a
n
a
n
E
lo
(t)
E
rn
(t)
E
xn
(t)
E
yn
(t)


Combiner
2PolSK with Spatial Diversity
2
1
2 2
2
EGC
SNR
|
|
.
|

\
|
o
=

=
N
i
ri
n
lo
P
N
P R

=
o
=
N
i
ri
n
lo
P
N
P R
1
2
2
MRC
2
SNR
Results and Discussion
No Spatal Diversity Weak Regime
EGC Moderate Regime
MRC Strong Regime

9 14 19 24 29 34 39
10
-9
10
-6
10
-3
SNR (dB)
B
E
R


3.9 dB 0.92 dB
8.94 dB
5.94 dB
Worst
achievement
Best
achievement
3 dB
BER performances against the SNR for 2PolSK with single detector and spatial diversity
N = 2 for weak, moderate and strong turbulence regimes.
Results and Discussion contd.

2 4 6 8 10
10
15
20
25
30
35
Number of photodetectors (N)
S
N
R

a
t

B
E
R

=

1
0
-
6


weak
moderate
strong
10.77 dB
2.37 dB
11.55 dB
0.74 dB
2.64 dB
2.11 dB
The SNR requirement to achieve a BER of 10
-6
against the number of photodetectors N
with MRC for weak, moderate and strong turbulence regimes at a BER of 10
-6
.
Conclusion
A novel 2PolSK system employing a spatial diversity with N -photodetector is
proposed to circumvent the scintillation effect on a FSO link. My
contributions in this work include:
1. No need for synchronization at the receiver since the optical reference
signal is transmitted at a different state of polarization;
2. No error floor and no power penalty in the BER performance due to the
intermediate angular frequency (IF) and the IF phase noise are eliminated
by employing polarization modulation;
3. Higher transmission data rates can be achieved by employing the
external modulation.