New priority-based parameter optimization technique for free space optics under bad weather conditions

Free space optic (FSO) is considered as an attractive option to fiber optic. FSO has the capability to go beyond the limits of fiber optics. However, atmospheric turbulence causes fluctuations in the intensity of the received light signal, impairing link performance. In this paper, we describe a new technique to mitigate turbulence-induced intensity fluctuations, i.e., signal fading (under the effects of rain and haze). The new technique determines the priority in the optimization of transmission parameters to achieve highdata rate transmission with low link attenuation and bit-error rate. The results show that rain has a more detrimental effect than haze on the link attenuation. To compensate for increasing degradation of weather conditions, it is found that the transmission parameters should be optimized in descending order of priority from the optical amplifier gain to the laser power, data rate, aperture size and link range.