Next Generation Free-Space Optical Communication Systems

自由空间光通信又称无线光通信，是未来异构无线网络的一项重要技术。当前基于射频的无线网络承载着越来越多的数据流量，自由空间光通信作为解决频谱短缺和拥塞问题的可行方案应运而生。自由空间光通信是一种经济、安全、无干扰和免许可的技术，能够在不使用光纤电缆的情况下以每秒千兆位的速度传输高速数据。虽然目前已经部署了一些商用自由空间光通信系统，但它们无法以节能的方式克服湍流引起的衰落所造成的损害。无线光通信的通信理论还很不成熟。开发低成本、低功耗的自由空间光通信系统，实现可靠的高速数据通信仍然是一个挑战。

Free-space optical communication, also known as wireless optical communication, is an important technology in future heterogeneous wireless networks. The current radio frequency based wireless networks are carrying increasing data traffic, and free-space optical communication emerges as a viable solution to the spectrum shortage and congestion problems. Free-space optical communication is a cost-effective, secure, interference-free, and license-free technology capable of delivering high speed data at gigabits per second without use of fiber optic cable. While some current generation commercial free-space optical communication systems have been deployed, they are incapable of overcoming the impairments caused by turbulence-induced fading in a power efficient manner. The communication theory of wireless optical communication is far from mature. The challenge remains to develop low-cost and low-power free-space optical communication systems capable of reliable high-speed data communication.