Abstract

Mid-infrared (MIR) free space optical communication has seen renewed interest in recent years due to advances in quantum cascade lasers. We present data from a multi-wavelength test-bed operated in the New York metropolitan area under realistic weather conditions. We show that a mid-infrared source (8.1 μm) provides enhanced link stability with 2x to 3x greater transmission over near infrared wavelengths (1.3 μm & 1.5 μm) during fog formation and up to 10x after a short scavenging rain event where fog developed and visibility reduced to ~ 1 km. We attribute the improvement to less Mie scattering at longer wavelengths. We confirm that this result is generally consistent with the empirical benchmark Kruse model at visibilities above 2.5 km, but towards the 1 km eye-seeing limit we measured the equivalent MIR visibility to be > 10 km.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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History
Original Manuscript: September 16, 2008
Manuscript Accepted: November 17, 2008
Revised Manuscript: November 17, 2008
Published: March 4, 2009

References

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Author Affiliations

Paul Corrigan, Rainer Martini, Edward A. Whittaker, Clyde Bethea

Stevens Institute of Technology

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