Accession Number:

ADA151840

Title:

The Effects of Atmospheric Turbulence on an Air-To-Air Optical Communication Link.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Kanavos,J. N.

Report Date:

1984-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

109.0

Abstract:

This thesis presents an analysis of the performance of an air-to-air optical communication link in the presence of atmospheric turbulence. As aircraft travel through the atmosphere, they encounter regions of atmospheric turbulence. While harmless to radio frequency communications, these regions of turbulence can cause both intensity and phase fluctuations within an optical beam. as a result, the communication link bit error rate rises. To evaluate the performance of such a link, a computer simulation was developed. By varying such parameters as the speed fo the aircraft, its altitude, and propagation path length, a determination could be made about link performance. The results obtained from the simulation showed that atmospheric turbulence plays a significant role in determining link performance. Originator-Supplied keywords include Optical Communications, Laser Communications, and Turbulence.

Descriptors:

• *ATMOSPHERIC MOTION
• *OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
• COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
• SIMULATION
• PROPAGATION
• AIRCRAFT
• PATHS
• RATES
• THESES
• TURBULENCE
• REGIONS
• COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
• ERRORS
• COMMUNICATION AND RADIO SYSTEMS
• TRAVEL
• DATA LINKS
• RADIOFREQUENCY
• BEAMS(RADIATION)
• AIR TO AIR
• LASER COMMUNICATIONS

Subject Categories:

• Non-Radio Communications

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE