Free Space Optics: Present Applications and Emerging Future Challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68104/ijasit.v1.i3.29Keywords:
Free Space Optics, Optical wireless communication, Line of sight, Atmospheric turbulence, Weather effects.Abstract
Free Space Optics (FSO) is a communication method that uses open space as the medium between transceivers, which must be in line of sight (LOS) for successful optical signal transmission. The medium can be air, outer space, or a vacuum. This system is suitable for communication in various environments and offers advantages like high bandwidth and no need for spectrum licensing. However, FSO performance depends on atmospheric conditions, as factors such as rain, fog, haze, physical obstructions, scattering, and turbulence can affect transmission. This paper discusses different weather conditions and methods to mitigate their impact. The review is further extended to examine the impact of haze and rain on the propagation of FSO signals. The scalability of an FSO network through the use of hybrid multi-beam FSO systems with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology is the last goal we discuss.
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