H. Yüksel, Studies of the Effects of Atmospheric Turbulence...

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
FENS SEMINARS

Studies of the Effects of Atmospheric Turbulence on
Free Space Optical Communications

Heba Yüksel
University of Maryland at College Park
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Abstract:
In this talk, a study of the effects of atmospheric turbulence on free space optical (FSO) communication links will be described using both an experimental system incorporating an effective imaging technique and a new geometrical simulation model.

Even after several decades of study, inconsistencies remain in the application of atmospheric turbulence theories in practical systems especially FSO communication systems, and the demonstration of acceptable correlations with experimental results. In this talk, a flexible empirical approach will be shown for improving link performance through image analysis of intensity scintillation patterns, coupled with frame aperture averaging on an FSO communication link. Weak and intermediate turbulence results will be shown for an 863 meter link at the University of Maryland.

A new geometrical model will also be presented to assess the effects of turbulence on laser beam propagation in FSO communication applications. The atmosphere along the laser beam propagation path is modeled as a spatial distribution of spherical bubbles with refractive index discontinuities statistically distributed according to various models. For each statistical representation of the atmosphere, the path of rays is analyzed using geometrical optics. These Monte Carlo techniques can assess beam wander, phase shifts and aperture averaging effects at the receiver.

Biography:
Heba Yüksel received the B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1996, the M.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1998, and the Ph.D. Degree from the University of Maryland in 2005. Currently, she is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the University of Maryland. From 1999 to 2002, she worked as a hardware design engineer at Ciena Corporation (Linthicum, Maryland). From 1998 to 1999, she worked as a System Engineer at Conexant Systems (Newport Beach, California).Her research interests are in the area of free space optical communication systems, atmospheric turbulence, atmospheric sensing and modeling, and optical imaging.

May 24, 2006, 13:40, FENS G032