Free-space Optical Communication in Plasma Waveguides
Abstract
Free-space transfer of electromagnetic (EM) waves has become a point of interest especially where physical connections fail to deliver, such as coaxial cables, twin-leads, optical waveguides and fibers. Free-Space Optical (FSO) communication is a concept that has been introduced more than hundred years ago and evolved rapidly. It is intuitive that for efficient implementation of free-space electromagnetic wave transmission, the propagation medium has to be transformed into a waveguide with a conductive channel and/or index structures. Using plasma waveguides to confine the natural divergence of EM waves was proposed in 1969 and has been getting a lot of attention from different research groups. In 2005 with the Canadian Defense R&D, starting a program on using filament induced plasma channels to guide microwave radiations, multiple European, Chinese and Russian research groups have scratched the surface. This effort hasn t been getting the attention it deserves in the US except through some preliminary theoretical work mostly done by our colleagues at the university at Buffalo. They have demonstrated that filament induced plasma structures theoretically can be used to guide, steer and even de-multiplex transmitted signals. Fundamentally the spectral bandwidth guided in a plasma waveguide is determined by the plasma frequency which is directly dependent on the electron density and its temporal and spatial distribution. We will focus on using high spatial and temporal resolution wave interferometry in order to obtain this information for comprehensive single plasma wire characterization. It s been shown, theoretically, that the efficiency of the filament induced plasma waveguides are strongly dependent on the arrangement of the plasma channels in space, and their relative phase. These neighboring effects, taking the single wire attributes into account, will be studied in space and time in order to create a stable filament structure with high effective conductivity for efficient long-range EM wave transfer. For these studies to be applied to in-field applications, main limitations of free- space transmission such as physical obstructions, losses and scintillation due to diffraction or scattering, atmospheric weather condition (fog, rain, clouds, turbulence) need to be investigated. We will target the interaction of EM waves with filament arrays and the propagation of plasma waveguides in atmospheric conditions in order to minimize natural losses and create soliton-like EM structures. This program will contribute to the education and training of 4 US students (2 already enrolled in the research group) as the new generation in laser science and technology for the needs of the nation, civilian and military. The outcome of this ARO-funded Young Investigator Research program will be an important stepping-stone for future research programs as it will benefit both fundamental and applied aspects of science. The high impact of this program, the expected results (publications, conference presentations, student training) and collaborations with the existing DoD programs will surely match the level of eminence that ARO and DoD have always promoted.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1810347
Entities
People
- Shermineh Fairchild
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Florida Institute of Technology
- United States Army