Obstacle evasion in free-space optical communications utilizing Airy beams

TL;DR

This paper presents a free-space optical communication system using Airy beams that can self-bend around obstacles, enhancing signal transmission and performance compared to traditional Gaussian beams.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of using controllable Airy beams for obstacle evasion in optical communications, demonstrating improved signal energy and transmission around obstacles.

Findings

Airy beams can be generated and controlled for different trajectories.

Optimized Airy beam trajectories bypass obstacles more effectively.

Airy beams improve communication performance over Gaussian beams.

Abstract

A high speed free-space optical communication system capable of self-bending signal transmission around line-of-sight obstacles is proposed and demonstrated. Airy beams are generated and controlled to achieve different propagating trajectories, and the signal transmission characteristics of these beams around the obstacle are investigated. Our results confirm that, by optimising their ballistic trajectories, Airy beams are able to bypass obstacles with more signal energy and thus improve the communication performance compared with normal Gaussian beams.