We analyze the ergodic capacity and e-outage capacity of coherent optical links through the turbulent atmosphere. We consider the effects of log-normal amplitude fluctuations and Gaussian phase fluctuations, in addition to local oscillator shot noise, for both passive receivers and those employing active modal compensation of wavefront phase distortion. We study the effect of various parameters, including the ratio of receiver aperture diameter to wavefront coherence diameter, the strength of the scintillation index, and the number of modes compensated.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

1. C. E. Shannon, "A mathematical theory of communications," Bell Syst. Tech. J.27, 379-423 623-656 (1948).
2. X. Zhu and J. Kahn, "Free space optical communication through atmospheric turbulence channels," IEEE Trans. Commun. 50, 1293-1300 (2002). [CrossRef]
3. S. Haas and J. H. Shapiro, "Capacity of wireless optical communications," IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun. 21, 1346-1357 (2003). [CrossRef]
4. J. A. Anguita, I. B. Djordjevic, M. Neifeld, and B. V. Vasic, "Shannon capacities and error-correction codes for optical atmospheric turbulent channels," J. Opt. Netw. 4, 586-601 (2005). [CrossRef]
5. A. Belmonte and J. M. Kahn, "Performance of synchronous optical receivers using atmospheric compensation techniques," Opt. Express 16, 14151-14162 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. D. L. Fried, "Optical heterodyne detection of an atmospherically distorted signal wave front," Proc. IEEE 55, 57-67 (1967). [CrossRef]
7. D. L. Fried, "Atmospheric modulation noise in an optical heterodyne receiver," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-3, 213-221 (1967). [CrossRef]
8. J. H. Churnside and C. M. McIntyre, "Signal current probability distribution for optical heterodyne receivers in the turbulent atmosphere. 1: Theory," Appl. Opt. 17, 2141-2147 (1978). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. J. H. Churnside and C. M. McIntyre, "Heterodyne receivers for atmospheric optical communications," Appl. Opt. 19, 582-590 (1980). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. A. Winick, "Atmospheric turbulence-induced signal fades on optical heterodyne communication links," Appl. Opt. 25, 1817-1825 (1986). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. J. Proakis and M. Salehi, Digital Communications (Mc Graw-Hill, 2007).
12. J. W. Strohbehn, T. Wang, and J. P. Speck, "On the probability distribution of line-of-sight fluctuations of optical signals," Radio Sci. 10, 59-70 (1975). [CrossRef]
13. R. J. Noll, "Zernike polynomials and atmospheric turbulence," J. Opt. Soc. Am. 66, 207-211 (1976). [CrossRef]
14. M. Born and E. Wolf, Principles of Optics (Cambridge University Press, 1999).
15. M. K. Simon, "A new twist on the Marcum Q-function and its applications," IEEE Commun. Lett. 2, 39-41 (1998). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• J. H. Churnside and C. M. McIntyre, "Signal current probability distribution for optical heterodyne receivers in the turbulent atmosphere. 1: Theory," Appl. Opt. 17, 2141-2147 (1978). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. H. Churnside and C. M. McIntyre, "Heterodyne receivers for atmospheric optical communications," Appl. Opt. 19, 582-590 (1980). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Winick, "Atmospheric turbulence-induced signal fades on optical heterodyne communication links," Appl. Opt. 25, 1817-1825 (1986). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

IEEE Commun. Lett.

• M. K. Simon, "A new twist on the Marcum Q-function and its applications," IEEE Commun. Lett. 2, 39-41 (1998). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

• D. L. Fried, "Atmospheric modulation noise in an optical heterodyne receiver," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-3, 213-221 (1967). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun.

• S. Haas and J. H. Shapiro, "Capacity of wireless optical communications," IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun. 21, 1346-1357 (2003). [CrossRef]

IEEE Trans. Commun.

• X. Zhu and J. Kahn, "Free space optical communication through atmospheric turbulence channels," IEEE Trans. Commun. 50, 1293-1300 (2002). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Netw.

• J. A. Anguita, I. B. Djordjevic, M. Neifeld, and B. V. Vasic, "Shannon capacities and error-correction codes for optical atmospheric turbulent channels," J. Opt. Netw. 4, 586-601 (2005). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am.

• R. J. Noll, "Zernike polynomials and atmospheric turbulence," J. Opt. Soc. Am. 66, 207-211 (1976). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• A. Belmonte and J. M. Kahn, "Performance of synchronous optical receivers using atmospheric compensation techniques," Opt. Express 16, 14151-14162 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Proc. IEEE

• D. L. Fried, "Optical heterodyne detection of an atmospherically distorted signal wave front," Proc. IEEE 55, 57-67 (1967). [CrossRef]

Radio Sci.

• J. W. Strohbehn, T. Wang, and J. P. Speck, "On the probability distribution of line-of-sight fluctuations of optical signals," Radio Sci. 10, 59-70 (1975). [CrossRef]

Other

• C. E. Shannon, "A mathematical theory of communications," Bell Syst. Tech. J.27, 379-423 623-656 (1948).
• M. Born and E. Wolf, Principles of Optics (Cambridge University Press, 1999).
• J. Proakis and M. Salehi, Digital Communications (Mc Graw-Hill, 2007).

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