This book provides a comprehensive description of an optical communications technology known as free space optical a next-generation communications network that uses optical signals through the atmosphere instead of fiber, RF, or microwaves. This technology potentially offers more complex ultrabandwidth communication services simultaneously to multiple users and in a very short time, compared to fiber optic technology. This text presents established and new advancements drawn from the latest research and development in components, networking, operation, and practices. This book describes the FSO network concepts in simple language. It provides comprehensive coverage in an easy-to-understand, progressive style that starts from the physics of the atmosphere and how it affects optical communications; continues with the design of a network node; and concludes with fiberless network applications from point-to-point to mesh topology. Important areas discussed include: Propagation of light in the atmosphere and phenomena that affect light propagation FSO transceiver design Point-to-point FSO systems Ring FSO systems Mesh-FSO systems and integrating the Mesh-FSO with the public network WDM Mesh-FSO FSO network security FSO-specific applications To meet the needs of both academia and industry, key mathematical formulas are presented along with descriptions, while extensive mathematical analyses are minimized or avoided. Free Space Optical Networks for Ultra-Broad Band Services serves as an ideal text for network communication professionals who enter the free space optical communication field, graduate students majoring in optical communications, optical communication engineers, researchers, managers, and consultants.

This book provides a comprehensive description of an opticalcommunications technology known as free space optical--anext-generation communications network that uses optical signalsthrough the atmosphere instead of fiber, RF, or microwaves. Thistechnology potentially offers more complex ultrabandwidthcommunication services simultaneously to multiple users and in avery short time, compared to fiber optic technology. This textpresents established and new advancements drawn from the latestresearch and development in components, networking, operation, andpractices.This book describes the FSO network concepts in simple language.It provides comprehensive coverage in an easy-to-understandprogressive style that starts from the physics of the atmosphereand how it affects optical communications; continues with thedesign of a network node; and concludes with fiberless networkapplications from point-to-point to mesh topology. Important areasdiscussed include:* Propagation of light in the atmosphere and phenomena thataffect light propagation* FSO transceiver design* Point-to-point FSO systems* Ring FSO systems* Mesh-FSO systems and integrating the Mesh-FSO with the publicnetwork* WDM Mesh-FSO* FSO network security* FSO-specific applicationsTo meet the needs of both academia and industry, keymathematical formulas are presented along with descriptions, whileextensive mathematical analyses are minimized or avoided. FreeSpace Optical Networks for Ultra-Broad Band Services serves asan ideal text for network communication professionals who enter thefree space optical communication field, graduate students majoringin optical communications, optical communication engineersresearchers, managers, and consultants.

Preface xvAcknowledgments xixAbout the Author xxiINTRODUCTION 11 PROPAGATION OF LIGHT IN UNGUIDED MEDIA 111.1 Introduction 111.2 Laser Beam Characteristics 121.3 Atmospheric Layers 281.4 Atmospheric Effects on Optical Signals 301.5 Coding for Atmospheric Optical Propagation 441.6 LIDAR 442 FSO TRANSCEIVER DESIGN 512.1 Introduction 512.2 Light Sources 522.3 Modulators 612.4 Photodetectors and Receivers 632.5 Optical Amplifi cation 702.6 Optical Signal to Noise Ratio 762.7 Acquisition, Pointing and Tracking 772.8 Adaptive and Active Optics 832.9 Laser Safety 862.10 Node Housing and Mounting 873 POINT-TO-POINT FSO SYSTEMS 913.1 Introduction 913.2 Simple PtP Design 933.3 Point-to-Point with Transponder Nodes 983.4 Hybrid FSO and RF 1013.5 FSO Point-to-Multipoint 1023.6 FSO Point-to-Mobile 1034 RING FSO SYSTEMS 1064.1 Introduction 1064.2 Ring Topologies and Service Protection 1074.3 Ring Nodes with Add-Drop 1094.4 Concatenated Rings 1114.5 Ring to Network Connectivity 1115 MESH FSO SYSTEMS 1135.1 Introduction 1135.2 FSO Nodes for Mesh Topology 1145.3 Hybrid Mesh-FSO with RF 1205.4 Hybrid FSO-Fiber Networks 1216 WDM MESH-FSO 1246.1 Introduction 1246.2 Light Attributes 1256.3 Optical Media 1256.4 Interaction of Light with Matter 1276.5 Medium Birefringence 1336.6 DWDM and CWDM Optical Channels 1346.7 WDM FSO Links 1356.8 WDM Mesh FSO Networks 1356.9 Service Protection in Mesh-FSO Networks 1386.10 WDM Mesh-FSO versus EM-Wireless 1407 INTEGRATING MESH-FSO WITH THE PUBLIC NETWORK 1437.1 Introduction 1437.2 The Ethernet Protocol 1457.3 The TCP/IP Protocol 1517.4 The ATM Protocol 1547.5 Wireless Protocols 1587.6 The Next Generation SONET/SDH Protocol 1647.7 Next Generation SONET/SDH Networks 1707.8 Next Generation Protocols 1757.9 The GMPLS Protocol 1777.10 The GFP Protocol 1797.11 The LCAS Protocol 1847.12 The LAPS Protocol 1847.13 Any Protocol over SONET/SDH 1868 FSO NETWORK SECURITY 1918.1 Introduction 1918.2 Cryptography 1938.3 Security Levels 1948.4 Security Layers 1958.5 FSO Inherent Security Features 1988.6 Conclusion 2009 FSO SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS 2029.1 Introduction 2029.2 FSO Networks for Highway Assisted Communications 2039.3 Mesh-FSO in Disaster Areas 2039.4 Visual Light Communication 2049.5 Conclusion 207References 207Acronyms 209Index 218