Simple Method for Designing or Analyzing an Optical Communication Link

A simple method is described for determining the performance of a free space optical communication link. The method can be used either in the system design (synthesis) mode, or in the performance evaluation (analysis) mode. Although restricted to photo counting based detection (e.g. photomultiplier tube or equivalent) of pulse position modulated signals, the method is still sufficiently general to accommodate space-based, as well as ground-based, reception.