A space division multiplexed free-space-optical communication system that can auto-locate and fully self align with a remote transceiver

Mansour Abadi, M., Cox, M. A., Alsaigh, R. E., Viola, S., Forbes, A. and Lavery, M. P.J. (2019) A space division multiplexed free-space-optical communication system that can auto-locate and fully self align with a remote transceiver. Scientific Reports, 9, 19687. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55670-1) (PMID:31873095) (PMCID:PMC6928158)

Abstract

Free-Space Optical (FSO) systems offer the ability to distribute high speed digital links into remote and rural communities where terrain, installation cost or infrastructure security pose critical hurdles to deployment. A challenge in any point-to-point FSO system is initiating and maintaining optical alignment from the sender to the receiver. In this paper we propose and demonstrate a low-complexity self-aligning FSO prototype that can completely self-align with no requirement for initial manual positioning and could therefore form the opto-mechanical basis for a mesh network of optical transceivers. The prototype utilises off-the-shelf consumer electrical components and a bespoke alignment algorithm. We demonstrate an eight fibre spatially multiplexed link with a loss of 15 dB over 210 m.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lavery, Professor Martin and Mansour Abadi, Dr Mojtaba and Alsaigh, Rakan Edrees M and Viola, Mr Shaun
• Authors: Mansour Abadi, M., Cox, M. A., Alsaigh, R. E., Viola, S., Forbes, A., and Lavery, M. P.J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Scientific Reports
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• ISSN (Online): 2045-2322
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Authors 2019
• First Published: First published in Scientific Reports 9:19687
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
173088		EPSRC Global Challenges Research Fund Institutional Sponsorship Award 2016 - University of Glasgow	Jonathan Cooper	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/P510968/1	Research and Innovation Services
173260		High Dimensional Free-space Building-to-Building Link for Last-Mile Communications	Martin Lavery	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/N032853/1	ENG - Electronics & Nanoscale Engineering