Free-space laser communication model

Laser communication has an enormous potential to provide a secure, jam-resistant, low detection probability and high-bandwidth means of communication to support multimedia, imagery, video, mapping and other command and control functions in battlefield environments. In this paper, we discuss the development of a complete numerical model for free-space lasercom - PamCom model. We examine results obtained in the preliminary study that validate the feasibility of a selected approach. We review the estimates for atmospheric transmission for various lasercom links at 1.55 mum, analyze spatial-temporal statistics of the scintillation in selected lasercom links including the links with a modulating retro-reflector (MRR), and evaluate the efficiency of the scintillation mitigation techniques. In addition, we review results for the link performance analysis including the SNR and BER calculations and examine predictions for the irradiance probability density function (PDF) from various models. Finally, we discuss the composition and top level architecture of the PamCom model, which will be usable for a wide variety of scenarios, involving terminals on aircrafts, satellites, and the ground, and will be designed for use in DoD and commercial lasercom system design, test, and evaluation.