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Modeling and Performance Analysis of Uplink Laser Transmission Across Sea Surfaces: A Channel Characterization Study
Hong Gao1, Tinglu Zhang1,2, Ruiman Yuan1
1College of Marine Technology, Faculty of Information Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 26, 2025
Summary
This study models laser transmission through the sea surface, finding that a spatial model, especially the Elfouhaily spectrum, better captures dynamic sea conditions than statistical models for improved underwater laser communication.
Area of Science:
- Optical physics
- Oceanography
- Laser engineering
Background:
- Marine environments pose challenges for laser transmission due to variable sea surface conditions.
- Accurate modeling of the sea surface is crucial for reliable cross-media laser communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate and analyze uplink laser transmission through a seawater-sea surface-air channel.
- To evaluate the impact of sea surface dynamics on laser transmission performance.
- To compare a novel spatial sea surface model with classical statistical models.
Main Methods:
- Ray tracing and Monte Carlo simulations were employed.
- A spatial sea surface model utilizing wave spectra and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technology was developed.
- Six wind wave spectra were assessed, with the Elfouhaily spectrum highlighted for low-wind conditions.
Main Results:
- The spatial model effectively captures power fluctuations caused by dynamic sea surface changes.
- Shorter transmission distances showed a power estimate difference of approximately 0.9 dB compared to the statistical model due to drift.
- Deeper transmissions reduced beam distortions, decreasing normalized peak power from -114 dB to -157 dB.
- Laser centroid distribution became elliptical due to sea surface azimuth distribution.
Conclusions:
- Incorporating spatiotemporal dynamics in sea surface modeling is essential for accurate laser transmission analysis.
- The findings provide insights for optimizing underwater-air laser transmission links in complex marine settings.
- The Elfouhaily spectrum demonstrates superior performance in characterizing optical sea surface properties, particularly under low-wind conditions.
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