Analysis of optimal Adaptive Optics system for Hybrid RF-wireless optical communication for maximum efficiency and reliability

Free space optics (FSO) has become a viable, high-bandwidth wireless alternative to fiber optic cabling. A more practical solution to extending the high availability range is to back-up the FSO link with a lower data rate radio frequency (RF) link. This hybrid FSO/RF system would extend the 99.999% link range to longer distances and open up a much larger metro/access market to the carriers. However, the atmospheric turbulence is the major limiting factor in these types of systems. The use of the optimal adaptive optics (AO) systems is investigated for mitigation of turbulence effects in the Hybrid RF-FSO systems. We develop the efficient analysis and simulation tools for modeling the highly random, turbulence degraded optical channel. Kolmogorov phase screen models are used to generate realistic aperture plane distributions and calculations and prediction of laser beam parameters. Optical adaptive optics system is used at the receiver end. It is shown that the use of adaptive optics greatly improves the performance of the hybrid receiver by reducing the scintillations induced errors.