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Data rates comparable to fiber transmission can be carried with very low
error rates, while the extremely narrow laser beam widths ensure that it is
possible to co-locate multiple tranceivers without risk of mutual interference in a
given location. FSO has roles to play as primary access madium and backup
technology. It could also be the solution for high speed residential access.
Though this technology sprang into being, its applications are wide and many. It
indeed is the technology of the future...
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 4
5. TERRESTRIAL LASER
COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGES 8
10. APPLICATIONS 15
13. CONCLUSION 26
14. REFERENCES 27
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would also like to express our gratitude to one and all, who directly or
indirectly helped us in bringing this effort to present form.
RAMAKANTH (06J11A0406)
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INTRODUCTION
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defense applications. By addressing the principal engineering challenges of
Free Space Optics (FSO), this aerospace/defense activity established a strong
foundation upon which today’s commercial laser-based Free Space Optics
(FSO) systems are based.
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FREE SPACE OPTICS (FSO) TECHNOLOGY
Lasers are one of the most significant inventions of the 20th century -
they can be found in many modern products, from CD players to fiber-optic
networks. The word laser is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by
Stimulated Emiission of Radiation. Although stimulated emission was first
predicted by Albert Einstein near the beginning of the 20th century, the first
working laser was not demonstrated until 1960 when Theodore Maiman did
so using a ruby. Maiman's laser was predated by the maser - another
acronym, this time for Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of
Radiation. A maser is very similar to a laser except the photons generated by
a maser are of a longer wavelength outside the visible and/or infrared
spectrum.
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A basic laser uses a mirrored chamber or cavity to reflect light waves
so they reinforce each other. An excitable substance – gas, liquid, or solid
like the original ruby laser – is contained within the cavity and determines
the wavelength of the resulting laser beam. Through a process called
pumping, energy is introduced to the cavity exciting the atoms within and
causing a population inversion. A population inversion is when there are
more excited atoms than grounded atoms which then leads to stimulated
emission. The released photons oscillate back and forth between the mirrors
of the cavity, building energy and causing other atoms to release more
photons. One of the mirrors allows some of the released photons to escape
the cavity resulting in a laser beam emitting from one end of the cavity.
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TERRESTRIAL LASER COMMUNICATIONS
CHALLENGES
Fog
Physical Obstructions
Pointing Stability
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Scintillation
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optical wireless transmission is line of sight between the two ends of the
link.
For Metro Area Network (MAN) providers the last mile or even feet
can be the most daunting. Free Space Optics (FSO) networks can close this
gap and allow new customers access to high-speed MAN’s. Providers also
can take advantage of the reduced risk of installing an Free Space Optics
(FSO) network which can later be redeployed.
A recent New York Times article reported that more than 100 million
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miles of optical fiber was laid around the world in the last two years, as
carriers reacted to the Internet phenomenon and end users’ insatiable demand
for bandwidth. The sheer scale of connecting whole communities, cities and
regions to that fiber optic cable or “backbone” is something not many
players understood well. Despite the huge investment in trenching and
optical cable, most of the fiber remains unlit, 80 to 90% of office,
commercial and industrial buildings are not connected to fiber, and transport
prices are dropping dramatically.
Free Space Optics (FSO) systems represent one of the most promising
approaches for addressing the emerging broadband access market and its
“last mile” bottleneck. Free Space Optics (FSO) systems offer many features,
principal among them being low start-up and operational costs, rapid
deployment, and high fiber-like bandwidths due to the optical nature of the
technology
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Access technologies in general use today include telco-provisioned
copper wire, wireless Internet access, broadband RF/microwave, coaxial
cable and direct optical fiber connections (fiber to the building; fiber to the
home). Telco/PTT telephone networks are still trapped in the old Time
Division Multiplex (TDM) based network infrastructure that rations
bandwidth to the customer in increments of 1.5 Mbps (T-1) or 2.024 Mbps
(E-1). DSL penetration rates have been throttled by slow deployment and the
pricing strategies of the PTTs. Cable modem access has had more success in
residential markets, but suffers from security and capacity problems, and is
generally conditional on the user subscribing to a package of cable TV
channels. Wireless Internet access is still slow, and the tiny screen renders it
of little appeal for web browsing.
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Free space optical (FSO) systems offers a flexible networking solution
that delivers on the promise of broadband. Only free space optics or Free
Space Optics (FSO) provides the essential combination of qualities required
to bring the traffic to the optical fiber backbone – virtually unlimited
bandwidth, low cost, ease and speed of deployment. Freedom from licensing
and regulation translates into ease, speed and low cost of deployment. Since
Free Space Optics (FSO) optical wireless transceivers can transmit and
receive through windows, it is possible to mount Free Space Optics (FSO)
systems inside buildings, reducing the need to compete for roof space,
simplifying wiring and cabling, and permitting the equipment to operate in a
very favorable environment. The only essential for Free Space Optics (FSO)
is line of sight between the two ends of the link.
Freedom from licensing and regulation leads to ease, speed and low
cost of deployment.
Since FSO units can receive and transmit through windows it reduces
the need to compete for roof space, simplifying wiring and cabling.
Only need is the line of sight between the two ends of the link.
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FREE SPACE OPTICS (FSO) SECURITY
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APPLICATIONS
Last mile access – FSO can be used in high-speed links to connect end
users with ISPs.
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FOG AND FREE SPACE OPTICS (FSO)
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and a well matched receive Field-of-View (FOV) provide for an
extremely robust fixed pointed Free Space Optics (FSO) system suitable
for most deployments. Fixed-pointed Free Space Optics (FSO) systems
are generally preferred over actively-tracked Free Space Optics (FSO)
systems due to their lower cost.
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FREE SPACE OPTICS (FSO) COMPARISONS
WHICH WAVELENGTH?
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systems due to laser eye safety, reduced solar background radiation, and
compatibility with existing technology infrastructure.
EYE-SAFETY
ATMOSPHERIC ATTENUATION
RECEIVER
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design of the receiver optics, and the operating wavelength itself. In order to
correctly assess the efficiency of the overall system, one must also take into
account the number and power of the lasers being used to generate the
signal.
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The size of the receiver optics is also important; a larger area receive
optic contributes to reducing errors due to scintallation. Scintillation is
atmospheric turbulence due to solar loading and natural convection, causing
temporally and spatially varying refractive index changes in the air. As a
laser beam propagates through the atmosphere, there is a time-varying
intensity at the receiver due to this phenomenon; this is referred to as
'scintillation'. This is quite similar to the apparent twinkling of the stars or
distant city lights, which is due to the same effect. The result is that an FSO
communications receiver can experience error bursts due to surges and fades
in the receive signal strength. One way to combat this scintillation effect,
and thus improve the error-rate performance, is to use a large aperture
receiver. A collecting aperture that is much larger than the spatial scale of
the scintillation provides an averaging effect of the localized surges and
fades, thus improving the error rate. This large-aperture approach is more
effective for scintillation reduction than multiple smaller apertures, which
perform less averaging at each lens. Another way to mitigate the effects of
scintillation is to use multiple transmitters, each of which takes a slightly
different path through the atmosphere, which also contributes an averaging
effect. The net result is that a properly designed system can defeat
scintillation impairments.
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the receiver photodiode. Since a certain minimum number of photoelectrons
is required to detect an optical pulse, a pulse at 1550nm can be detected with
~ 3 dB less optical power. Hence, 1550nm has a fundamental 3 dB advantage
over 800nm in receiver sensitivity.
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as APDs. APD receivers can provide 5-10 dB improvement over PIN
detectors, albeit with increased parts cost and a more complex high voltage
bias circuit. These four parameters allow links to travel over longer distance,
penetrate lower visibility fog, or both.
FIXED-POINTING OR ACTIVE-POINTING?
Another element of Free Space Optics (FSO) system design that must
be considered by a prudent buyer is the challenge of maintaining sufficiently
accurate pointing stability. A number of Free Space Optics (FSO) systems
employ an active pointing-stabilization approach, which represents an
effective approach for addressing this challenge. However, the cost,
complexity, and reliability issues associated with active-pointing approach
can be avoided in some applications (particularly for shorter ranges and
lower data rates) by utilizing the fixed-pointed approach schematically
shown in the figure.
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hardware exploits this approach of designing for loose alignment tolerances.
Therefore, it is possible to perform initial alignment of the transceivers at
opposite ends of the link during installation and then leave them unattended
for many years of reliable service.
RELIABILITY
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Built for Dependability and Longevity
COST OF DEPLOYEMENT
Higher performances with little extra cost penalty, provides the best value.
The key factor that affects the cost are system design, minimization of manual
labour and bulk manufacturing. An 850 nm laser can cost up to $5000 while a
1550 nm laser can go up to $50,000.
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CONCLUSION
FSO enables optical transmission of voice video and data through air at
very high rates. It has key roles to play as primary access medium and backup
technology. Driven by the need for high speed local loop connectivity and the
cost and the difficulties of deploying fiber, the interest in FSO has certainly
picked up dramatically among service providers world wide. Instead of fiber
coaxial systems, fiber laser systems may turn out to be the best way to deliver
high data rates to your home. FSO continues to accelerate the vision of all optical
networks cost effectively, reliably and quickly with freedom and flexibility of
deployment.
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REFERENCES
Websites:
1. http://www.lightpointe.com
2. http://www.spie.org
3. http://www.osa.org
Journals
1. IEEE Spectrum August 2001
2. IEEE Intelligent System May-June 2001
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