Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

A Photonic System for Generating Unconditional Polarization-Entangled Photons Based on Multiple Quantum Interference
Published on: September 5, 2019
Chip-interleaved optical code division multiple access relying on a photon-counting iterative successive interference
Xiaolin Zhou1, Xiaowei Zheng, Rong Zhang
1Department of Communications Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
A new Poisson photon-counting iterative successive interference cancellation (SIC) scheme significantly improves free-space optical (FSO) communication by suppressing multiple access interference (MAI). This method offers substantial bit-error rate (BER) reductions compared to traditional detectors.
Area of Science:
- Optical Communications
- Signal Processing
- Photonics
Background:
- Free-space optical (FSO) communication systems face challenges from atmospheric turbulence and multiple access interference (MAI).
- Existing optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA) systems with photon-counting detectors struggle with interference and noise.
- Poisson photon-counting is a fundamental detection method in optical systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel Poisson photon-counting based iterative successive interference cancellation (SIC) scheme.
- To enhance the performance of free-space optical (FSO) communication systems under challenging channel conditions.
- To improve the bit-error rate (BER) performance in the presence of MAI, Gamma-Gamma turbulence, shot-noise, and background light.
Main Methods:
- Design and simulation of an iterative successive interference cancellation (SIC) scheme.
- Utilizing Poisson photon-counting for signal detection.
- Modeling of MAI, Gamma-Gamma atmospheric turbulence, shot-noise, and background light effects.
Main Results:
- The proposed SIC scheme demonstrates a strong capability for suppressing multiple access interference (MAI).
- Significant improvements in bit-error rate (BER) performance were observed.
- The scheme achieved an order of magnitude of BER improvement compared to conventional OCDMA photon-counting detectors.
Conclusions:
- The novel Poisson photon-counting based iterative SIC scheme is effective for FSO communication.
- The proposed method offers a robust solution for mitigating MAI and turbulence in FSO systems.
- This approach significantly enhances the reliability and performance of optical wireless communication.
Related Concept Videos
Interference and Diffraction
Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy
In-phase-contrast microscopes, interference between light directly passing through a cell and light refracted by cellular components is used to create high-contrast, high-resolution images without staining. It is the oldest and simplest type of microscope that creates an image by altering the wavelengths of light rays passing through the specimen. Altered wavelength paths are created using an annular stop in the condenser. The annular stop produces a hollow cone of...

