Studies on characterizing the transmission of RF signals over a turbulent FSO link

• Published in: Optics express Vol. 17; no. 10; p. 7731
• Main Authors: Dat, Pham Tien, Bekkali, Abdemoula, Kazaura, Kamugisha, Wakamori, Kazuhiko, Suzuki, Toshiji, Matsumoto, Mitsuji, Higashino, Takeshi, Tsukamoto, Katsutoshi, Komaki, Shozo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 11.05.2009
• ISSN: 1094-4087; 1094-4087
• DOI: 10.1364/OE.17.007731

In this paper, we present an experimental study on transmission of RF signals over turbulent free-space optics (FSO) channel by using off-the-shelf Radio Frequency - FSO (RF-FSO) antennas. The results demonstrate potential of utilizing FSO links for transmission of RF signals and are used as a guideline in the design, prediction and evaluation of an advanced Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) RoFSO system we are developing capable of transmitting multiple RF signals. An analytical modeling of the system is also conducted to identify key parameters in evaluating the performance of RF signal transmission using FSO links. The results confirm that the effect of scintillation on RF-FSO system performance can be estimated by using a simple estimation equation and satisfactory result are obtained from comparing the experimental and theoretical derived data under weak to strong turbulence condition.