Free Space Optics

Seminar Report 2012-2013
Free Space Optics
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Free Space Optics (FSO) communications is also called Free Space Photonics (FSP) or Optical Wireless, refers to the transmission of modulated visible or infrared (IR) beams through the atmosphere to obtain optical communications. Free Space Optics (FSO) uses lasers to transmit data, but instead of enclosing the data stream in a glass fiber, it is transmitted through the air. Free Space Optics (FSO) works on the same basic principle as Infrared television remote controls, wireless keyboards or wireless Palm devices.
Presently in the twenty-first centaury wireless networking is gaining because of speed and ease of deployment and relatively high network robustness. Modern era of optical communication originated with the invention of LASER in 1958 and fabrication of low loss optical fiber in 1970.
Free space optics or FSO although it only recently and rather suddenly sprang in to public awareness, free space optics is not a new idea. It has roots that 90 back over 30 years to the era before fiber optic cable became the preferred transport medium for high speed communication.
FSO technology has been revived to offer high band width last mile connectivity for todays converged network requirements.
Dept. of E&C
G.P.T.C. Tirurangadi
Free Space Optics
Figure 1.1: Free Space Optics structure
FSO is a line-of-sight technology, which enables optical transmission up to 2.5 Gbps of data, voice and video communications, allowing optical connectivity without deploying fiber optic cable or securing spectrum licenses. Free space optics require light, which can be focused by using either light emitting diodes (LED) or LASERS(light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation). The use of lasers is a simple concept similar to optical transmissions using fiber optic cables, the only difference being the medium.
As long as there is a clear line of sight between the source and the destination and enough transmitter power, communication is possible virtually at the speed of light. Because light travels through air faster than it does through glass, so it is fair to classify FSO as optical communications at the speed of light. FSO works on the same basic principle as infrared television remote controls, wireless keyboards or wireless palm devices.
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Free Space Optics
Chapter 2
HISTORY AND RELEVANCE OF FSO
2.1 History
It is said that this mode of communication was first used in the 8 th centaury by the Greeks. They used fire as the light source, the atmosphere as the transmission medium and human eye as receiver.
FSO or optical wireless communication by Alexander Graham Bell in the late 19th centaury even before his telephone. Bells FSO experiment converted voice sounds to telephone signals and transmitted them between receivers through free air space along a beam of light for a distance of some 600 feet, this was later called PHOTOPHONE. Although Bells photo phone never became a commercial reality, it demonstrated the basic principle of optical
communications.
The engineering maturity of Free Space Optics (FSO) is often under estimated, due to a misunderstanding of how long Free Space Optics (FSO) systems have been under development. Historically, Free Space Optics (FSO) or optical wireless communications was first demonstrated by Alexander Graham Bell in the late nineteenth century (prior to his demonstration of the telephone). Bells Free Space Optics (FSO) experiment converted voice sounds into telephone signals and transmitted them between receivers through free air space along a beam of light for a distance of some 600 feet.
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Free Space Optics
Calling his experimental device the photophone. Bell considered this optical technology and not the telephone, his preeminent invention because it did not require wires for transmission. Although Bells photophone never became a commercial reality, it demonstrated the basic principle of optical communications. Essentially all of the engineering of todays Free Space Optics (FSO) or free space optical communications systems was done over the past 40 years or so, mostly for defense applications. By addressing the principal engineering challenges of Free Space Optics (FSO), this aerospace/defense activity established a strong foundation upon which todays commercial laser based Free Space Optics (FSO) systems are based. Essentially all of the engineering of todays FSO or free space optical communication systems was done over the past 40 years or so mostly for defense applications.
2.2 Relevance of FSO in communication
Presently we are facing with a burgeoning demand for high bandwidth and differentiated data services. Network traffic doubles every 9-12 months forcing the bandwidth or data storing capacity to grow and keep pare with this increase. The right solution for the pressing demand is the untapped bandwidth potential of optical communications. Optical communications are in the process of evolving Giga bits/sec to terabits/sec and eventually to pentabits/sec. The explosion of internet and
internet based applications has fuelled the bandwidth requirements.
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Free Space Optics
Business applications have grown out of the physical boundaries of the enterprise and gone wide area linking remote vendors, suppliers, and customers in a new web of business applications. Hence companies are looking for high bandwidth last mile options. The high initial cost and vast time required for installation in case of OFC speaks for a wireless technology for high bandwidth last mile connectivity there FSO finds its place.
2.3 FSO as a future technology

Infrared technology is as secure or cable applications and can be more reliable than wired technology as it obviates wear and tear on the connector hardware. In the future it is forecast that this technology will be implemented in copiers, fax machines, overhead projectors, bank ATMs, credit cards, game consoles and head sets. All these have local applications and it is really here where this technology is best suited, owing to the inherent difficulties in its technological process for interconnecting over distances. Outdoors two its use is bound to grow as communications companies, broadcasters and end users discovers how crowded the radio spectrum has become. Once infrareds image issue has been overcome and its profile raised, the medium will truly have a bright future.
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Free Space Optics
Chapter 3
WORKING OF FSO SYSTEMS

The concept behind FSO is simple. FSO uses a directed beam of light radiation between two end points to transfer information (data, voice or even video). This is similar to OFC (optical fiber cable) networks, except that light pulses are sent through free air instead of OFC cores. An FSO unit consists of an optical transceiver with a laser transmitter and a receiver to provide full duplex (bi-directional) capability. Each FSO unit uses a high power optical source (laser) plus a lens that transmits light through the atmosphere to another lens receiving information. The receiving lens connects to a high sensitivity receiver via optical fiber. Two FSO units can take the optical connectivity to a maximum of 4kms. Optical systems work in the infrared or near infrared region of light and the easiest way to visualize how the work is imagine, two points interconnected with fiber optic cable and then remove the cable. The infrared carrier used for transmitting the signal is generated either by a high power LED or a laser diode. Two parallel beams are used, one for transmission and one for reception, taking a standard data, voice or video signal, converting it to a digital format and transmitting it through free space. Todays modern laser system provide network connectivity at speed of 622 Mega bits/sec and beyond with total reliability. The beams are kept very narrow to ensure that it does not interfere with other FSO beams. The receive detectors are either PIN diodes or avalanche photodiodes. The FSO transmits invisible eye safe light beams from transmitter to the receiver using low power infrared lasers in the tera hertz spectrum. FSO can function over kilometers.
Dept. of E&C 6 G.P.T.C. Tirurangadi
Free Space Optics
3.1 FSO subsystem
Figure 3.1 FSO Subsystem
In the transmitting section, the data is given to the modulator for modulating signal and the driver is for activating the laser. In the receiver section the optical signal is detected and it is converted to electrical signal, preamplifier is used to amplify the signal and then given to demodulator for getting original signal.
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Free Space Optics
Tracking system which determines the path of the beam and there is special detector (CCD, CMOS) for detecting the signal and given to pre amplifier. The servo system is used for controlling system, the signal coming from the path to the processor and compares with the environmental condition, if there is any change in the signal then the servo system is used to correct the signal.
Figure 3.2 FSO Transmitter
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Free Space Optics
Fig 3.3 FSO Receiver
3.2 Performance-Transmit power and Receiver sensitivity

Free Space Optics (FSO) products performance can be characterized by four main parameters (for a given data rate). Total transmitted power Transmitting beam width Receiving optics collecting area Receiver sensitivity
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Free Space Optics
A figure of merit (FOM) can be used to compare competing systems, based on the basic physics of this equation:
Figure of Merit = (Power*Diameter2)/ (Divergence2*Sensitivity)
Where, Power = Laser power in milliwatts Diameter = Effective diameter in cm (excluding any obscuration losses) Divergence = Beam divergence in milliard Sensitivity = Receiver sensitivity in nanowatts
High transmitted power may be achieved by using erbium doped fiber amplifiers, or by non-coherently combining multiple lower cost semiconductor lasers. Narrow transmitting beam width can be achieved on a limited basis for fixed-pointed units, with the minimum beam width large enough to accommodate building sway and wind loading. Much narrower beams can be achieved with an actively pointed system, which includes an angle tracker and fast steering mirror or gimbals.
Ideally the angle tracker operates on the communication beam, so no separate tracking beacon is required. Larger receiving optics captures a larger fraction of the total transmitted power, up to terminal cost, volume and weight limitations. And high receiver sensitivity can be achieved by using small, low capacitance photo detectors, circuitry which compensates for detector capacitance, or using detectors with internal gain mechanisms, such as APDs. APD receivers can provide 5-10 dB improvement over PIN detectors, albeit with increased parts cost and a more complex high voltage bias circuit.
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Free Space Optics
These four parameters allow links to travel over longer distance, penetrate lower visibility fog, or both.
In addition, Free Space Optics (FSO) receivers must be designed to be tolerant to scintillation, i.e. have rapid response to changing signal levels and high dynamic range in the front end, so that the fluctuations can be removed in the later stage limiting amplifier or AGC. Poorly designed Free Space Optics (FSO) receivers may have a constant background error rate due to scintillation, rather than perfect zero error performance.
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Free Space Optics
Chapter 4
FSO ARCHITECTURES
4.1 Point-to-point architecture
Point-to-point architecture is a dedicated connection that offers higher bandwidth but is less scalable. In a point-to-point configuration, FSO can support speeds between 155Mbits/sec and 10Gbits/sec at a distance of 2 kilometers (km) to 4km. Access claims it can deliver 10Gbits/ sec. Terabeam can provide up to 2Gbits/sec now, while AirFiber and Lightpointe have promised Gigabit Ethernet capabilities sometime in 2001.
Figure 4.1 Point-to-point architecture
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Free Space Optics
4.2 Mesh architecture

Mesh architectures may offer redundancy and higher reliability with easy node addition but restrict distances more than the other options.
Figure 4.2 Mesh architecture
4.3 Point-to-multipoint architecture

Point-to-multipoint architecture offers cheaper connections and facilitates node addition but at the expense of lower bandwidth than the point-to-point option.
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Free Space Optics
Figure 4.3 Point-to-multipoint architecture
In a point-to-multipoint arrangement, FSO can support the same speeds as the point-to-point arrangement -155Mbits/sec to 10Gbits/sec-at 1km to 2km.
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Free Space Optics
Chapter 5
NEED OF FSO
The increasing demand for high bandwidth in metro networks is relentless, and service providers pursuit of a range of applications, including metro network extension, enterprise LAN-to-LAN connectivity, wireless backhaul and Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS) supplement has created an imbalance. This imbalance is often referred to as the "last mile bottle neck. Service providers are faced with the need to turn up services quickly and cost effectively at a time when capital expenditures are constrained. But the last mile bottleneck is only part of a larger problem. Similar issues exist in other parts of the metro networks. Connectivity bottle neck better addresses the core dilemma. As any network planner will tell you, the connectivity bottleneck is everywhere in metro networks. From a technology standpoint, there are several options to address this connectivity bottleneck, but most don't make economic sense.
The first, most obvious choice is fiber optic cable. Without a doubt, fiber is the most reliable means of providing optical communications. But the digging, delays and associated costs to lay fiber often make it economically prohibitive. Moreover, once fiber is deployed, it becomes a "sunk" cost and cannot be redeployed if a customer relocates or switches to a competing service provider, making it extremely difficult to recover the investment in a reasonable timeframe.
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Free Space Optics
Another option is radio frequency (RF) technology. RF is a mature technology that offers longer ranges distances than FSO, but RF based networks require immense capital investments to acquire spectrum license. Yet, RF technologies cannot scale to optical capacities of 2.5 gigabits. The current RF bandwidth ceiling is 622 megabits. When compared to FSO, RF does not make economic sense for service providers looking to extend optical networks.
The third alternative is wire and copper based technologies, (i.e. cable modem, T1s or DSL). Although copper infrastructure is available almost everywhere and the percentage of buildings connected to copper is much higher than fiber, it is still not a viable alternative for solving the connectivity bottleneck. The biggest hurdle is bandwidth scalability. Copper technologies may ease some short-term pain, but the bandwidth limitations of 2 megabits to 3 megabits make them a marginal solution, even on a good day.
The fourth and often most viable alternative is FSO. The technology is an optimal solution, given its optical base, bandwidth scalability, speed of deployment (hours versus weeks or months), redeployment and portability, and cost effectiveness (on average, one-fifth the cost of installing fiber-optic cable).
Only 5 percent of the buildings in the United States are connected to fiberoptic infrastructure (backbone), yet 75 percent are within one mile of fiber. As bandwidth demands increase and businesses turn to high speed LANs, it becomes more frustrating to be connected to the outside world through lower speed connections such as DSL, cable modems. Most of the recent trenching to lay fiber has been to improve the metro core (backbone), while the metro access and edge have completely been ignored.
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Free Space Optics
Studies show that disconnects occurs in the metro network core, primarily due to cost constraints and the deployment of such non scalable, non optical technologies such as LMDS. Metro optical networks have not yet delivered on their promise. High capacity at affordable prices still eludes the ultimate end user.
5.1 Merits of FSO
1. Free space optics offers a flexible networking solution that delivers on the promise of broadband. 2. Straight forward deployment as it requires no licenses. 3. Rapid time of deployment. 4. Low initial investment. 5. Ease of installation even indoors in less than 30 minutes. 6. Security and freedom from irksome regulations like roof top rights and spectral licenses. 7. Redeploy ability. Unlike radio and microwave systems FSO is an optical technology and no spectrum licensing or frequency co-ordination with other users is required. Interference from or to other system or equipment is not a concern and the point to point laser signal is extremely difficult to intercept and therefore secure. Data rate comparable to OFC can be obtained with very low error rate and the extremely narrow laser beam which enables unlimited number of separate FSO links to be installed in a given location.
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Free Space Optics
5.2 Market
Telecommunication has seen massive expansion over the last few years. First was the tremendous growth of the optical fiber. Long haul Wide Area Network (WAN) followed by more recent emphasis on Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN). Meanwhile LAN giga bit Ethernet ports are being deployed with a comparable growth rate. Even then there is pressing demand for speed and high bandwidth. The connectivity bottleneck which refers the imbalance between the increasing demand for high bandwidth by end users and inability to reach them is still an unsolved puzzle. Of the several modes employed to combat this last mile bottleneck, the huge investment is trenching, and the non redeploy ability of the fiber has made it uneconomical and non satisfying. Other alternatives like LMDS, a RF technology has its own limitations like higher initial investment, need for roof rights, frequencies, rainfall fading, complex set and high deployment time. In the United States the telecommunication industries 5 percent of buildings are connected to OFC. Yet 75 percent are with in one mile of fiber. Thus FSO offers to the service providers, a compelling alternative for optical connectivity and a complement to fiber optics.
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Free Space Optics
5.3 Applications of FSO

Optical communication systems becoming more and more popular as the interest and requirement in high capacity and long distance space communications grow. FSO overcomes the last mile access bottleneck by sending high bit rate signals through the air using laser transmission. Applications of FSO system are many and varied but a few can be listed. 1. Metro Area Network (MAN): FSO network can close the gap between the last mile customers, there by providing access to new customers to high speed MANs resulting to Metro Network extension. 2. Last Mile Access: End users can be connected to high speed links using FSO. It can also be used to bypass local loop systems to provide business with high speed connections. 3. Enterprise connectivity: As FSO links can be installed with ease, they provide a natural method of interconnecting LAN segments that are housed in buildings separated by public streets or other right of way property. 4. Fiber backup: FSO can also be deployed in redundant links to backup fiber in place of a second fiber link. 5. Backhaul: FSO can be used to carry cellular telephone traffic from
antenna towers back to facilities wired into the public switched telephone network. 6. Service acceleration: Instant services to the customers before fiber being laid.
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Free Space Optics
5.4 FSO at the speed of light

Unlike radio and microwave systems, Free Space Optics (FSO) is an optical technology and no spectrum licensing or frequency coordination with other users is required, interference from or to other systems or equipment is not a concern, and the point-to-point laser signal is extremely difficult to intercept, and therefore secure. Data rates comparable to optical fiber transmission can be carried by Free Space Optics (FSO) systems with very low error rates, while the extremely narrow laser beam widths ensure that there is almost no practical limit to the number of separate Free Space Optics (FSO) links that can be installed in a given location.
5.5 Construction of FSO

FSOs freedom from licensing and regulation translates into ease, speed and low cost of deployment. Since Free Space Optics (FSO) transceivers can transmit and receive through windows, it is possible to mount Free Space Optics (FSO) systems inside buildings, reducing the need to compete for roof space, simplifying wiring and cabling, and permitting Free Space Optics (FSO) equipment to operate in a very favorable environment. The only essential requirement for Free Space Optics (FSO) or optical wireless transmission is line of sight between the two ends of the link. For Metro Area Network (MAN) providers the last mile or even feet can be the most daunting. Free Space Optics (FSO) networks can close this gap and allo w new customers access to high speed MANs. Providers also can take advantage of the reduced risk of installing a Free Space Optics (FSO) network which can later be redeployed.
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Free Space Optics
Chapter 6
FSO CHALLENGES
The advantages of free space optics come without some cost. As the medium is air and the light pass through it, some environmental challenges are inevitable.
6.1 Operating wavelength

Currently available Free Space Optics (FSO) hardware can be classified into two categories depending on the operating wavelength systems that operate near 800 nm and those that operate near 1550 nm. There are compelling reasons for selecting 1550 nm Free Space Optics (FSO) systems due to laser eye safety, reduced solar background radiation, and compatibility with existing technology infrastructure.
6.2 Eye safety

Laser beams with wavelengths in the range of 400 to 1400 nm emit light that passes through the cornea and lens and is focused onto a tiny spot on the retina while wavelengths above 1400 nm are absorbed by the cornea and lens, and do not focus onto the retina, as illustrated in Figure 1. It is possible to design eye-safe laser transmitters at both the 800 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths but the allowable safe laser power is about fifty times higher at 1550 nm. This factor of fifty is important as it provides up to 17 dB additional margin, allowing the system to propagate over longer distances, through heavier attenuation, and to support higher data rates.
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Free Space Optics
6.3 Fog
Fog substantially attenuates visible radiation, and it has a similar affect on the near-infrared wavelengths that are employed in FSO systems. Rain and snow have little effect on FSO. Fog being microns in diameter, it hinder the passage of light by absorption, scattering and reflection. Dealing with fog , which is known as Mie scattering, is largely a matter of boosting the transmitted power. Fog can be countered by a network design with short FSO link distances. FSO installation in foggy cities like San Francisco has successfully achieved carrierclass reliability.
6.4 Physical obstructions

Flying birds can temporarily block a single beam, but this tends to cause only short interruptions and transmissions are easily and automatically reassumed. Multi-beam systems are used for better performance.
6.4.1 Scintillation
Scintillation refers the variations in light intensity caused by atmospheric turbulence. Such turbulence may be caused by wind and temperature gradients which results in air pockets of varying diversity act as prisms or lenses with time varying properties. This scintillation affects on FSO can be tackled by multi beam approach exploiting multiple regions of space- this approach is called spatial diversity.
6.4.2 Solar interference This can be combated in two ways:
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Free Space Optics
The first is a long pass optical filter window used to block all wavelengths
below 850nm from entering the system.
The second is an optical narrow band filter proceeding the receive

detector used to filter all but the wavelength actually used for intersystem communications.
6.4.3 Scattering
Scattering is caused when the wavelength collides with the scatterer. The physical size of the scatterer determines the type of scattering.
When the scatterer is smaller than the wavelength Rayleigh scattering. When the scatterer is of comparable size to the wavelength Mie
scattering.
When the scatterer is much larger than the wavelength Non selective
scattering.
In scattering there is no loss of energy, only a directional re-distribution of energy which may cause reduction in beam intensity for longer distance.
6.4.4 Absorption
Absorption occurs when suspended water molecules in the terrestrial atmosphere extinguish photons. This causes a decrease in the power density of the FSO beam and directly affects the availability of a system. Absorption occurs more readily at some wavelengths than others. However, the use of appropriate power, based on atmospheric conditions, and use of spatial diversity helps to maintain the required level of network availability.
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6.5 Building sway / Seismic activity

One of the most common difficulties that arises when deploying FSO links on tall buildings or towers is sway due to wind or seismic activity Both storms and earthquakes can cause buildings to move enough to affect beam aiming. The problem can be dealt with in two complementary ways through beam divergence and active tracking. With beam divergence, the transmitted beam spread, forming optical cones which can take many perturbations. Active tracking is based on movable mirrors that control the direction in which beams are launched.
6.6 FSO Security

FSO is far more secure than RF or other wireless-based transmission technologies for several reasons:
Laser beams cannot be detected with spectrum analyzers or RF meters Laser transmissions travel along a line of sight path that cannot be intercepted easily. It requires a matching transceiver carefully aligned to complete the transmission. Interception is very difficult and extremely unlikely.
The laser beams are narrow and invisible, making them harder to find and even harder to intercept and crack
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Free Space Optics
6.7 FSO Reliability

Employing an adaptive laser power (Adaptive Power Control or APC) scheme to dynamically adjust the laser power in response to weather conditions will improve the reliability of Free Space Optics (FSO) optical wireless systems. In clear weather the transmit power is greatly reduced, enhancing the laser lifetime by operating the laser at very low-stress conditions. In severe weather, the laser power is increased as needed to maintain the optical link - then decreased again as the weather clears. A TEC controller that maintains the temperature of the laser transmitter diodes in the optimum region will maximize reliability and lifetime.
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Free Space Optics
Chapter 7
CONCLUSION
Free space optics (FSO) provides a low cost gaining access to the fiber optic backbone. FSO technology can be rapidly deployed to provide immediate service to the customers at low initial investment without any licensing hurdle making high speed high band width communication possible. Though not very popular in India at the moment, FSO has tremendous scope for deployment companies like CISCO, LIGHT POIN few other have made huge investment to promote this technology in the market. It is only a matter of time before the customers realized, benefits of FSO and the technology deployed in large scale. FSO technology not only delivers fiber quality connections, it provides the lowest cost transmission capacity in the broadband industry. As a truly protocol independent broadband conduit, FSO systems complement legacy network investments and work in harmony with any protocol, saving substantial up front capital investments. A FSO link can be procured and installed for as little as one-tenth of the cost of laying fiber cable, and about half as much as comparable microwave/RF wireless systems. By transmitting data through the atmosphere, FSO systems dispense with the substantial costs of digging up sidewalks to install a fiber link. Unlike RF wireless technologies, FSO eliminates the need to obtain costly spectrum licenses or meet further regulatory requirements.
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REFERENCES
1.Heinz A. Willebrand, Baksheesh S. Ghuman "Fiber Optics Without Fiber." 2.http://www.freespaceoptics.org 3.http://www.networkmagazin.com 4.http://www.furtera.com/fsofaq.html 5.http://www.sans.org/rr/wireless/optics.php 6.http://www.freespaceoptic.com/
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1.What is the difference between Rayleigh scattering &Mie scattering? When the scatterer is smaller than the wavelength Rayleigh scattering.When the scatterer is of comparable size to the wavelength Mie scattering.
2.What is scintillation? Scintillation refers the variations in light intensity caused b atmospheric turbulence.
3.What is the wavelength rage of FSO?
Currently available Free Space Optics (FSO) hardware can be classified into two categories depending on the operating wavelength systems that operate near 800 nm and those that operate near 1550 nm.
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Free Space Optics

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Seminar Report 2012-2013