Capacity of and coding for multiple-aperture, wireless, optical communications

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2003.Includes bibliographical references (p. 243-249).This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Refractive index turbulence causes random power fluctuations in optical communication systems, making communication through the atmosphere difficult. This same phenomenon makes the stars twinkle at night, and pavement shimmer on a hot summer day. True to the old adage, "don't put all your eggs in one basket," we examine laser communication systems that use multiple transmit and receive apertures. These apertures provide redundant replicas of the transmitted message to the receiver, each corrupted separately by the atmosphere. Reliable communication occurs when not all of these paths are deeply faded. We quantify the maximum rate of reliable communication, or capacity, and study space-time coding techniques for both direct- and coherent-detection receivers. We also experimentally verify the performance of some simple techniques for optically-preamplified, direct-detection receivers.by Shane M. Haas.Ph.D

The Telecommunications and Data Acquisition Report

Archival reports on developments in programs managed by JPL's office of Telecommunications and Data Acquisition (TDA) are presented. In space communications, radio navigation, radio science, and ground-based radio astronomy, it reports on activities of the Deep Space Network (DSN) and its associated Ground Communications Facility (GCF) in planning, in supporting research and technology, in implementation, and in operations