IHCS: Multiplexing, Modulation, Coding and Detection Technologies Enabling Hybrid RF-Optical and Microwave-Optical Communications

智力优势：亚利桑那大学提出了一个多学科研究计划，以解决一个重要的技术挑战：由于高带宽不匹配而导致的射频和光通信技术的不兼容。另一个重要成果是开发了新的调制和编码技术，使强大气湍流下的通信能够可靠地进行。拟议研究计划的具体目标包括：(1)开发高效接口，以实现包括正交频分复用和多级脉冲位置调制在内的混合射频自由空间光传输；(2)开发能够在强大气湍流下工作的高效调制技术，包括多激光-多探测器概念；(3)开发高效编码技术，例如低密度奇偶校验码，以提高自由空间光学系统的可靠性；(4)开发改进的系统模型和信道容量研究，以评估最终性能极限；(5)对所提议的方法进行实验验证。更广泛的影响：通过将编码、调制和自由空间光通信方面的理论专业知识与数值建模专业知识和最先进的实验基础设施相结合，首席研究人员在开发新一代混合射频自由空间光学系统方面处于独特的地位，因此，对美国和海外的光网络技术和信息基础设施的发展做出了重大贡献。该项目的跨学科性质(即结合光学物理、光学设备技术和通信/编码理论和实践)预计将促进跨学科教育，并为学生获得行业实习机会创造新的机会，从而加强大学与行业之间的合作。主要教育目标包括：(1)为传播有关自由空间光通信的新信息设立研究生研讨会；(2)开发一门新的研究生课程，题为？自由空间光通信；？(3)将迭代译码技术纳入数字通信系统课程序列，以及(4)出版关于光通信的调制和编码的章节或专著。

Intellectual Merit: University of Arizona proposes a multidisciplinary research program addressing an important technological challenge: the incompatibility of RF and optical communication technologies due to the large bandwidth mismatch. Another important outcome is development of novel modulation and coding techniques enabling reliable communication under strong atmospheric turbulence. The specific goals of the proposed research program include: (i) Development of efficient interfaces to enable the hybrid RF-free-space optical transmission including orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and multilevel pulse-position modulation; (ii) Development of efficient modulation techniques capable of operating under strong atmospheric turbulence, including the multi-laser-multi-detector concept; (iii) Development of efficient coding techniques, such as low-density parity-check codes, to improve the reliability of the free-space optical system; (iv) Development of refined system models and channel capacity studies to assess the ultimate performance limits; and (v) Experimental validation of the proposed methods. Broader Impact: By combining the theoretical expertise in coding, modulation, and free-space optical communications, with the numerical-modeling expertise and state-of-the-art experimental infrastructure, the Principal Investigators are in a unique position to develop a new generation of hybrid RF-free-space optical systems, contributing therefore, significantly to the evolution of optical network technologies and the information infrastructure in the United States and abroad. The interdisciplinary nature of the project (i.e., combining optical physics, optical device technologies, and communication/coding theory and practice) is expected to foster cross-disciplinary education, and to create new opportunities for students to obtain industry internships and therefore enhance collaboration between the University and industry. The main educational objectives include: (i) establishing a graduate seminar for dissemination of new information on free-space optical communications, (ii) developing a new graduate course entitled ?Free-Space Optical Communications,? (iii) incorporating iterative decoding techniques into the Digital Communications Systems course-sequence, and (iv) publishing a chapter or a monograph on modulation and coding for optical communications.