Abstract
Optical communication is a promising strategy for deep space exploration but it is susceptible to coronal solar wind turbulence impairments during superior solar conjunction. The variance of amplitude fluctuations caused by coronal turbulence on optical waves propagation is proposed in this paper. Both the generalized non-Kolmogorov coronal turbulence spectrum and the aperture averaging effect are taken into account. The analytic expression of the bit error rate (BER) for free-space optical (FSO) link is then derived based on Gamma–Gamma distribution model under the weak-to-moderate coronal turbulence channels. Numerical evaluations results demonstrate that coronal turbulence with small non-Kolmogorov spectral index, large outer scale, and inner scale has more potential to deduce amplitude fluctuations. With the increment of antenna radius, the amplitude fluctuations decrease obviously. In addition, the variation tendencies of these parameters can further result in small BER. Therefore, the link performance will be improved by decreasing the optical wavelength and enlarging the antenna radius. Our proposed amplitude fluctuations model with aperture averaging effect has potential application for the future deep space FSO communication.
Highlights
Compared with the microwave communication, free-space optical (FSO) communication has found wide applications in many communication scenarios, thanks to its extensive advantages, such as higher data rate, faster link installation, larger bandwidth, and lower power consumption, and so on
Optical communication is a promising strategy for deep space exploration but it is susceptible to coronal solar wind turbulence impairments during superior solar conjunction
In addition to these severe impacts on FSO communication link performance, the link will suffer from solar scintillation induced by coronal solar wind turbulence during superior solar conjunction when the Sun lies between the Earth and the spacecraft [3]
Summary
Compared with the microwave communication, free-space optical (FSO) communication has found wide applications in many communication scenarios, thanks to its extensive advantages, such as higher data rate, faster link installation, larger bandwidth, and lower power consumption, and so on. Link performance for optical waves propagation in coronal turbulence under weak-to-moderate scintillation with the GG model is an urgent challenge that requires further investigation due to the development of state-of-the-art deep space optical communication. To tackle these issues, we first introduce a deep space optical communication scheme during superior solar conjunction. Considering the link performance of optical waves propagation through coronal turbulence, which is a serious problem with the development of deep space exploration, we investigated the link BER with the assumption of weak-to-moderate scintillation under GG channel distribution model.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
