Evaluation of coverage area for a wide line-of-sight indoor optical free-space communication system employing coherent detection [optical wireless communications]

The application of coherent detection to indoor optical free-space communications is considered here. Analytical expressions are derived for a wide line-of-sight (W-LOS) optical link which determine the coverage area and the required photo-detection area given different binary digital transmission schemes and a given bit rate. The coverage area is maximised for systems using both metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) and PIN photo-detectors. Results show that MSM photo-detectors, due to their inherently lower capacitance per unit photo-detection area, result in a greater coverage area than their PIN counterparts. To demonstrate the viability of implementing coherent detection indoors, a 200 Mb/s LOS optical link which uses coherent detection is also reported.     

Low-complexity iterative equalisation and decoding for wireless optical communications [optical wireless communications]

A low-complexity scheme of iterative equalisation and decoding by combining a recursive systematic convolutional code and a pulse-position modulation is proposed here. A graph- based equalisation for intersymbol interference (ISI) known at both transmitter and receiver is considered. By representing the memory channel with ISI as the factor graph and applying sum-product (SP) algorithm to this graph, a posteriori probability (APP) of the desired symbol necessary to implement iterative equalisation and decoding is derived. A partial response precoding is used to reduce the span of ISI from a possible infinite number of two baud periods. This precoding scheme makes the factor graph of memory channel cycle-free, and SP algorithm for combating ISI converges to an optimum detection. Numerical results show that the proposed low-complexity strategy has almost the same performance as the optimum turbo equalisation.     

一种新颖的水声相干通信接收算法

为了克服水声信道的多径衰落,消除码间干扰,获得可靠的数据传输,提出了一种新颖的水声相干通信接收算法。该新型算法有两个优点:一是将自适应判决反馈均衡器和迭代译码技术相结合,二是译码采用Turbo译码原理,整个译码系统可以看作是串联迭代译码器,只是其中的内部译码器被编码比特对数似然率(LLR)计算器所取代,有效地降低了运算复杂度。同时,自适应判决反馈均衡器采用了变步长因子算法,改善了均衡器的收敛速度。仿真实验验证了该组合接收算法的性能     

Double-layer graphene optical modulator

Here we report a high-performance double-layer graphene optical modulator. By using two graphene layers and an oxide layer in between to form a p-oxide-n like junction, this modulator operates at 1 GHz with a high modulation depth (~0.16 dB/μm) at a moderate drive voltage (~5 V). Benefited from the symmetrical band structure of graphene near Dirac point, such design eliminates the optical loss widely existing in silicon photonics and has advantages including small footprint, low energy consumption, and low insertion loss.     

Narrowband optical filters suitable for various applications in optical communications

We propose three types of narrowband optical filters based on a Fox-Smith resonator. We demonstrate that by choosing the appropriate combination of coating materials on each prism facet, one can design either a high reflectance or a high transmittance optical filter, suitable for low bit rate optical communication applications with International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) standards. We also show the possibility of designing an optical filter having a desirable finite reflectance/transmittance ratio with simultaneous peaks at ITU-T standard wavelengths. Such filters could be suitable for wavelength tuning applications.     

The enhanced phase modulation ability of optical modulator based on bi-layer graphene-silicon waveguide

We demonstrate that by inserting bi-layer graphene inside silicon waveguide, the modulation ability of the overall waveguide can be greatly enhanced. Moreover, the modulation ability of the waveguide remains stable under the variations of the temperature and the wavelength of the incident light. A Mach–Zehnder modulator based on this structure is proposed and the calculated results show that the modulator exhibits an excellent performance in terms of short length arm (7 μm), low energy consumption (8 fJ/bit) and high extinction ratio (31 dB). Besides, it requires low applied voltage and can be compatible with CMOS technology.     

Holographically corrected telescope for high-bandwidth optical communications

We present a design for an optical data communications receiver-transmitter pair based on the holographic correction of a large diameter, poor-quality, reflecting primary mirror. The telescope has a narrow bandwidth (<0.1 nm) with good signal frequency isolation (>60 dB) and is scalable to meter-class apertures. We demonstrate the correction of a reflector telescope with over 2000 waves of aberration to diffraction-limited operation, capable of handling data transmission rates up to 100 GHz.     

Polymeric thermo-optic space switches for optical communications

Solid state optical space switches based on the thermo-optic (t.o.) effect in polymeric optical waveguides have now reached the commercial stage. The application of these switches is in network protection and network reconfiguration functions for fiber optic communications systems. The requirements for these applications include polarization and wavelength independence, low insertion loss, low cross talk, low drive power with step-like (digital) response, millisecond switching times and small size. In addition the reliability of the component must meet the demanding requirements of telecom applications. It will be shown that polymeric t.o. space switches can meet all functional requirements due to the exceptional thermal and t.o. effects of polymers combined with their tunability and processing versatility. Furthermore, it will be shown that polymer optical chips components can withstand extreme lifetime tests with success.     

Generation of partially coherent laser beam directly from spatial-temporal phase modulated optical resonators

Abstract

The generation of a partially coherent laser beam directly from a spatial-temporal phase modulated optical resonator is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The laser material used in the experiment is Nd:YAG rod pumped by Krypton lamps working in continuous wave mode. The phase modulation is fulfilled by an intra-cavity LiNbO₃ electro-optic crystal driven by high voltage. The experimental results show that intracavity phase modulation is an effective way to generate partially coherent laser beams. The theoretical analysis and numerical simulation shows that the output beam can be characterized by Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beams. The two-slit interference experiment confirms that the output beam is partially coherent.     

A fiber optic phase modulator with an optical frequency shift of up to 20 GHz

A fiber optic phase modulator is described in which the phase of a light wave traveling in an optical fiber is modulated by a composite electromechanical resonator with Q≌1000. The instantaneous frequency of the wave at the modulator output varies according to a harmonic law. The interval of tuning of the instantaneous light wave frequency achieved in the experiment is 20 GHz, which corresponds to a modulation index of ≌10⁶. It is demonstrated that a maximum value of the frequency tuning range is determined by the elastic limit of the resonator material.     

Astigmatic phase correction for the magneto-optic spatial light modulator

We report a simple low-cost technique for evaluating the phase distortion in a magneto-optic spatial light modulator. We find that the dominant distortion is caused by astigmatism and is easily compensated by encoding of the complex-conjugate pattern onto the device. Two experimental results are shown. First, the focused spot size from a Fresnel lens is sharpened when the aberrations are corrected. Second, we show that the pattern that generates a first-order Bessel-function nondiffracting beam does not work unless the aberrations are corrected.     

Substrate-mode holographic polarization-division multi/demultiplexer for optical communications

Based on the diffractive properties of a transmission-type phase volume hologram, a new type of polarization-division multi/demultiplexer for optical communications is presented.     

An economical piezoelectric phase modulator for fiber optic sensors

A homemade piezoelectric phase modulator for interfero-metric fiber optic sensors was fabricated using piezoelectric buzzers as strain elements. Six piezoelectric elements were embedded between the two halves of a bakelite cylinder split along its axis and secured tightly together again to form a cylinder. Single-mode optical fiber was then wound around the cylinder to complete the unit. Up to a frequency of 500 Hz, the phase shift produced by the modulator is linearly proportional to the amplitude of the applied voltage. The sensitivity of the phase modulator is about 3.6 rad/V and has a dynamic range of 1,000 rad, which is sufficient for most phase modulation purposes.     

Topology optimization for optical microlithography with partially coherent illumination

This article revisits a topology optimization design approach for micro‐manufacturing and extends it to optical microlithography with partially coherent illumination. The solution is based on a combination of two technologies, the topology optimization and the proximity error correction in microlithography/nanolithography. The key steps include (i) modeling the physical inputs of the fabrication process, including the ultraviolet light illumination source and the mask, as the design variables in optimization and (ii) applying physical filtering and heaviside projection for topology optimization, which corresponds to the aerial image formulation and the pattern development processes, respectively. The proposed approach results in an effective source and a binary design mask, which can be sent directly to fabrication without additional post‐processing steps for proximity error correction. Meanwhile, the performance of the device is optimized and robust with respect to process variations, such as dose/photo‐resist variations and lens defocus. A compliant micro‐gripper design example is considered to demonstrate the applicability of this approach. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Free-space optical communications link budget estimation

This paper describes a new methodology of estimating free-space optical communications link budgets to be expected in conditions of severe turbulence. The approach is derived from observing that the ability of an adaptive optics (AO) system to compensate turbulence along a path is limited by the transmitter and receiver Rayleigh range, proportional to the diameter of the optics squared and inverse of the wavelength of light utilized. The method uses the Fried parameter computed over the range outside of the transmitter and receiver Rayleigh ranges, to calculate the Strehl ratios that yield a reasonable prediction of the light impinging on the receiving telescope aperture and the power coupling into the fiber. Comparisons will be given between theory and field measurements. These comparisons show that AO is most effective within the Rayleigh ranges, or when an atmospheric gradient is present, and lesser so when the total range is much greater than the sum of the Rayleigh ranges.