Coherent optical array receiver experiment: Design, implementation and BER performance of a multichannel coherent optical receiver for PPM signals under atmospheric turbulence

The performance of a coherent free-space optical communications system operating in the presence of turbulence is investigated. Maximum Likelihood Detection techniques are employed to optimally detect Pulse Position Modulated signals with a focal-plane detector array, and reconstruct the turbulence-degraded signals. The experimental demonstration of this project and results may be divided in three parts; two of which have already been explained in previous publications [1]. This latest paper shows the final experimental results, including investigation of performance of the Coherent Optical Receiver Experiment (CORE) performed at the laboratory facilities at JPL. Bit Error Rate (BER) is presented for single and multichanel optical receivers, where quasi-shot noise limited performance is achieved, under simulated turbulence conditions using non-coherent post-detection processing techniques. Theoretical BER expressions are compared with experimental obtained BER results and array combining gains are presented. Receiver sensitivity in terms of photons per bit (PPB) is examined; BER results are shown as a function of signal to noise ratios, (SNR), as well as a function of photons per symbol, and photons per bit.