Monte Carlo–based channel estimation and performance evaluation for UWOC links under geometric losses

Underwater wireless optical communication has been studied and proposed as a potential technology for various underwater applications including monitoring and surveillance using wireless sensor networks. In this context, we present a statistical model using an exhaustive Monte Carlo approach for an underwater wireless optical communication link between sensor nodes in a data mulling environment. This work provides insights into the science of photon transport underwater, its utilization in a communication system, evaluation, and optimization of underwater communication. We characterize the temporal channel behavior taking into account multiple scattering of photons involving the constraints of detector aperture diameter, field‐of‐view (FOV), and link distance for an aligned point‐to‐point link. We analyze the designed model in terms of total received power and bit error rate for clear ocean waters. Our simulation results show that the detector aperture and FOV has an impact towards a successful communication in the distance from 5 to 20 m. In addition, results show that the FOV is an affecting factor only in the presence of larger aperture sizes of the detector.