Two-Element Optical Array Receiver Field Demonstration

The results of field experiments designed to demonstrate key enabling concepts of optical array receivers are presented in a field environment similar to actual operating conditions. The theoretical framework and analytical evaluation of optical array receivers have been developed and documented in previous articles [1,4]. This article describes the implementation and field evaluation of a two-element optical array receiver incorporating photon-counting, signal conditioning, high-speed digital sample distribution, adaptive delay compensation, and sample combining operations required for array reception of intensity-modulated optical pulse-position modulated (PPM) signals. Data collected in the field were processed off-line to determine communications performance of a two-element optical array and to demonstrate the inherent advantages of optical array reception.