Free-Space Optical Communications: Advanced Channel Modelling, Simulation, and Mitigation Techniques

The growing scarcity of traditional wireless spectrum, combined with rising demand for higher wireless transmission capacity, presents a critical challenge for current communication networks. Free-space optics (FSO) provides a strategic response to the challenge by enabling high-capacity, spectrum-independent connectivity beyond congested traditional wireless bands. FSO is rapidly gaining momentum across terrestrial, airborne, and space communications, becoming a key enabler for 6G, non-terrestrial networks, and future space communication infrastructures. FSO also supports the transmission of quantum information and remains the most feasible wireless technology for practical quantum key distribution implementations. 

Despite these advantages, the performance of FSO systems can be degraded by atmospheric turbulence, adverse weather conditions, and alignment errors. Addressing these challenges is essential for achieving reliable and long-distance optical wireless links.

This talk will provide an overview of key FSO applications and discuss the major channel impairments affecting system performance. We will also introduce an advanced simulation framework for FSO systems and present several techniques to improve the reliability and efficiency of next-generation FSO communication systems.