Signal processing algorithms improved turbulence in free-space optic tests

Science Daily  December 20, 2022
Researchers in the UK used commercially available photonic lanterns, a commercial transponder, and a spatial light modulator to emulate turbulence. They simultaneously transmitted multiple data signals using different spatially shaped beams of light using a photonic lantern. By detecting light with these shapes using a second lantern, more of the light is collected at the receiver, and the original data can be unscrambled greatly reduce the impact of the atmosphere on the quality of the data received in MIMO digital signal processing. By transmitting multiple beams of different shapes through the same telescopes and detecting the different shapes, they increased the availability to more than 99%, and the capacity to more than 500 Gbit/s. A project investigating the real-world applications of free space optics technology is presently underway in South Africa to bring internet access to communities living in informal settlements and schools in underprivileged areas…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE