BER and outage probability of DPSK subcarrier intensity modulated free space optics in fully developed speckle.

In this paper a differential phase shift keying (DPSK) subcarrier intensity modulated (SIM) free space optical (FSO) link is considered in negative exponential atmospheric turbulence environment. To mitigate the scintillation effect, the selection combining spatial diversity scheme (SelC) is employed at the receiver. Bit error rate (BER) and outage probability (Pout) analysis are presented with and without the SelC spatial diversity. It is shown that at a BER of 10-6, a maximum diversity gain 25 dB is predicted. And about 60 dBm signal power is required to achieve an outage probability of 10-6, based on a threshold BER of 10-4

Integration of the atmospheric fluctuations in a dual-field optical interferometer: the short exposure regime

Spatial phase-referencing in dual-field optical interferometry is reconsidered. Our analysis is based on the 2-sample variance of the differential phase between target and reference star. We show that averaging over time of the atmospheric effects depends on this 2-sample phase variance (Allan variance) rather than on the true variance. The proper expression for fringe smearing beyond the isoplanatic angle is derived. With simulations of atmospheric effects, based on a Paranal turbulence model, we show how the performances of a dual-field optical interferometer can be evaluated in a diagram 'separation angle' versus 'magnitude of faint object'. In this diagram, a domain with short exposure is found to be most useful for interferometry, with about the same magnitude limits in the H and K bands. With star counts from a Galaxy model, we evaluate the sky coverage for differential astrometry and detection of exoplanets, i.e. likelihood of faint reference stars in the vicinity of a bright target. With the 2mass survey, we evaluate sky coverage for phase-referencing, i.e. avaibility of a bright enough star for main delay tracking in the vicinity of any target direction.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Integrated optics for astronomical interferometry. I. Concept and astronomical applications

We propose a new instrumental concept for long-baseline optical single-mode interferometry using integrated optics which were developed for telecommunication. Visible and infrared multi-aperture interferometry requires many optical functions (spatial filtering, beam combination, photometric calibration, polarization control) to detect astronomical signals at very high angular resolution. Since the 80's, integrated optics on planar substrate have become available for telecommunication applications with multiple optical functions like power dividing, coupling, multiplexing, etc. We present the concept of an optical / infrared interferometric instrument based on this new technology. The main advantage is to provide an interferometric combination unit on a single optical chip. Integrated optics are compact, provide stability, low sensitivity to external constrains like temperature, pressure or mechanical stresses, no optical alignment except for coupling, simplicity and intrinsic polarization control. The integrated optics devices are inexpensive compared to devices that have the same functionalities in bulk optics. We think integrated optics will fundamentally change single-mode interferometry. Integrated optics devices are in particular well-suited for interferometric combination of numerous beams to achieve aperture synthesis imaging or for space-based interferometers where stability and a minimum of optical alignments are wished.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, accpeted by Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Serie