Abstract:
A method and apparatus is described for a free space optical communication link that transmits and receives an optical signal using phase incoherent light. In one embodiment, the phase incoherent light source may be a Superluminescent Light Emitting Diode (SLED). Use of phase incoherent light reduces signal scintillation by significantly reducing speckle in the transmitted signal. The result is an optical link that does not need an adaptive optical control loop to correct for speckle and that may modularly replace conventional laser-based phase-coherent free space optical links typically used in free space optical link systems. Use of the described apparatus and methods results in reduced system size, reduced system weight, reduced system complexity, reduced power consumption, a lower initial system cost, a reduced failure rate, a decreased bit error rate, lower lifecycle maintenance costs, greater reliability, greater link availability, increased link throughput and improved network performance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention pertains to free space optical communication. In particular, the present invention pertains to the use of a phase incoherent light source to reduce atmospheric scintillation within a free space optical transmission.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Free space optical (FSO) communication (FSOC), commonly referred to as lasercomm, has emerged in recent years as an attractive alternative to conventional Radio Frequency (RF) communication. One of the biggest challenges facing free space optical communication in links that travel through the lower atmosphere is atmospheric scintillation.  
         [0005]     Scintillation may be defined as rapid variation in signal intensity level. For free space optical communication, scintillation causes loss of data due to a loss of signal. As light travels through the atmosphere, turbulence may affect the path that the light follows. In the case of a free space optical communication link, atmospheric turbulence may manifest itself as beam wander, speckle, or a combination of beam wander and speckle. Beam wander is caused by atmospheric turbulence randomly bending an optical beam away from an intended receiver. Beam wander causes scintillation due to the fact that the optical beam is bent away from the intended receiver and a portion, or all, of the optical beam is not received. Depending upon how severely the optical beam is bent, scintillation due to beam wander may be reduced by using an active pointing system to track the optical beam and to dynamically adjust the optical transmitter and/or optical receiver to compensate for beam wander.  
         [0006]     Speckle is typically caused by atmospheric turbulence randomly bending portions of a coherent beam, resulting in interference within the propagated beam, as described in greater detail below. As shown in  FIG. 1 , speckle typically results in non-uniform intensity patterns, involving very dark and bright spots within a transmitted beam. As a propagated beam is received and speckle patterns change over a receiver, the varying regions of bright and dark create scintillation in the received signal. Speckle patterns are typically stochastic and may change in frequency from a few hertz to as high as 100 Hz depending on atmospheric conditions.  
         [0007]     Historically, lasers have been the preferred light source for use in free space optical communication due to the heritage of laser devices in fiber-optic-based communication networks. Although other light sources have been used for fiber optic communication, lasers have been the light source of choice due to characteristics that work well in long-haul, high data rate links in which optical fiber serves as the transport media through which the laser light is transmitted. For example, use of narrow-bandwidth laser-generated light in optical-fiber-based transmissions reduces the effect of fiber dispersion, or group velocity dispersion, and allows many wavelength-based channels to be transmitted within a narrow spectral range, thus allowing a greater number of wavelength channels to be transmitted along a single physical optical fiber.  
         [0008]     Unfortunately, another characteristic of light produced by a laser is that laser light demonstrates strong phase coherence. For example, in a typical telecommunication laser, the ratio of light that has phase coherence to that of spontaneous emission (the component of laser light that is phase incoherent) is on the order of 70 dB or more. Such strong phase coherence makes laser light particularly susceptible to atmospheric scintillation. When a laser beam travels through the atmosphere, portions of the beam are bent while other parts of the beam remain on their normal trajectory. As the bent portions of the beam are steered by subsequent atmospheric bending onto the rest of the beam, destructive interference occurs. Due to the high degree of phase coherence in laser light, the interference of these beams is significant and results in speckle. Thus, although lasers are a proven, highly-effective source of light for communication across a uniform optical fiber transmission media, laser light is not as effective for use in free space optical communication in which the transmission media is dynamic and/or turbulent.  
         [0009]     Historically, scintillation due to speckle has been difficult to control. The deep fades that occur from speckle can last as long as several refresh rates of an optical receiver&#39;s control system. This lack of information leaves not only a gap in the received data stream but also a gap in the received active pointing information. Once the fade has passed, the control system has to make larger corrections in order to “catch up” to where the transmission should have been had there not been a loss in signal. As a result, the effects of scintillation may cause frequent and brief but damaging fades in signal level. The result is a loss in data throughput and reduced optical link availability.  
         [0010]     Traditional methods for mitigating the effects of speckle include the use of adaptive optics, the use of higher powered lasers, and/or alternating methods used to send data in an attempt to route around the signal fades. Unfortunately, such approaches do not eliminate scintillation but merely attempt to compensate for the deleterious effects of scintillation upon a free space optical transmission.  
         [0011]     Hence, a need remains for an apparatus and method capable of reducing and/or eliminating scintillation in free space optical transmissions. Preferably, such an approach would not require an adaptive optics control loop to correct for scintillation and, therefore, would not require a portion of a received optical signal to drive a wavefront sensor that is typically associated with such adaptive optics control loops. Further, the approach would preferably not increase the size, weight, complexity, power consumption or cost of remaining free space optical link components. In addition, by eliminating the effects of scintillation upon a free space optical link, such an approach would preferably allow free space optical communication at even greater distances than would be possible at the same level of amplification using lasers. By mitigating the effects of scintillation, such an approach would preferably result in a free space optical link with increased availability and a decreased bit error rate, thereby reducing the amount of retransmitted data, packet re-routing, and dropped packets and contributing to improved network performance and reliability.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Therefore, in light of the above, and for other reasons that may become apparent when the invention is fully described, an object of the present invention is to reduce and/or eliminate signal scintillation that is the result of signal speckle.  
         [0013]     Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for adaptive optical control loops used to correct speckle in a received signal.  
         [0014]     Yet another object of the present invention is to increase the effectiveness of adaptive tracking and control systems used to reduce scintillation due to beam wander.  
         [0015]     Still another object of the present invention is to increase the distance that may be supported by an optical link using a light source of any specific power or amplification.  
         [0016]     A further object of the present invention is to increase the availability, reliability, and throughput that can be achieved with optical links, despite harsh environments and extreme temperature conditions.  
         [0017]     A still further object of the present invention is to decrease the cost, size, weight, power requirements, complexity and service requirements associated with optical links.  
         [0018]     The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and in combination, and it is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiring two or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required by the claims attached hereto.  
         [0019]     A method and apparatus is described for a free space optical communication link that transmits and receives an optical signal using phase incoherent light. In one exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, the phase incoherent light may be emitted by a Superluminescent Light Emitting Diode (SLED). Use of phase incoherent light reduces signal scintillation by significantly reducing the occurrence of speckle in the transmitted signal. The result is an optical link that does not need an adaptive optical control loop to correct for speckle nor need to bleed off a portion of the received optical power to drive a wavefront sensor. The phase incoherent free space optical link of the present invention may modularly replace the conventional, laser-based phase-coherent free space optical link typically used in free space optical link systems. Use of the described apparatus and methods results in reduced system size, reduced system weight, reduced system complexity, reduced power consumption, a lower initial system cost, a reduced failure rate, a decreased bit error rate, lower lifecycle maintenance costs, greater reliability, greater link availability, increased link throughput and improved network performance.  
         [0020]     The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  presents four representative examples of speckle within a beam of light as might be viewed at separate points in time by a free space optical receiver upon receipt of an initially coherent beam of light that has passed through atmospheric turbulence.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  presents four representative examples of a beam of light as might be viewed at separate points in time by a free space optical receiver upon receipt of an initially incoherent beam of light that has passed through the same atmospheric turbulence that generated the distorted optical signal represented in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a data chart presenting the index of refraction v. wavelength for light passing through optical fiber fused silica.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a data chart presenting the index of refraction v. wavelength for light passing through air.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a representative block diagram of a free space optical transmitter and a free space optical receiver in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a process flow diagram for transmitting a beam of incoherent light in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a process flow diagram for receiving a beam of incoherent light in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a representative comparison of expected power measurements as may be recorded by a free space optical receiver for an incoherent beam of light and a coherent beam of light, each of the same initial intensity, after each beam has passed through the same atmospheric turbulence, but without an active pointing system to correct for beam wander. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     As described with respect to  FIG. 1 , conventional free space optical communication links that transmit and receive coherent, laser-generated light are plagued by a form of distortion, commonly referred to as speckle. Speckle is the result of destructive interference as atmospheric turbulence introduces phase shifts to portions of a largely coherent beam of laser-generated light and then randomly deflects the phase shifted and un-shifted portions of the beam into one another, resulting in destructive interference within the transmitted signal.  
         [0030]     The method and apparatus for free space optical communication, described here, is based upon the transmission of substantially phase incoherent light. Given that the transmitted beam is phase incoherent, phase shifts introduced by atmospheric turbulence do not result in a significant degree of destructive interference; hence, speckle in the transmitted signal is virtually eliminated. To illustrate,  FIG. 2  presents four representative examples of a beam of light as might be viewed at separate points in time by a free space optical receiver upon receipt of an initially incoherent beam of light that has passed through the same atmospheric turbulence that generated the distorted optical signal represented in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0031]     In accordance with the present invention, any source of phase incoherent light may be used, so long as a beam of sufficient intensity is achieved to support the free space distance to be spanned by the optical communication link. A typical free space communication link of approximately 1 km requires approximately one milliwatt of transmitted power. A conventional single mode optical-fiber-coupled light emitting diode (LED) is typically capable of propagating no more than 100 microwatts of transmitted power into the optical fiber to which the LED is coupled. However, single mode optical-fiber-coupled superluminescent LEDs (SLEDs) have recently been developed, each capable of propagating as much as 20 milliwatts of power into the optical fiber to which the SLED is coupled. The incoherent light produced by such an optically coupled SLED is sufficient to support a free space optical link of significant distance, without a need for amplification.  
         [0032]     SLEDs typically generate phase incoherent light (i.e., generate phase incoherent photons) based upon a process known as spontaneous emission. Spontaneous emission based processes typically generate light that includes a broader spectrum of wavelengths than the phase-coherent light produced using light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation (i.e., laser) based processes.  
         [0033]     As demonstrated by  FIG. 3 , the index of refraction for fused silica  300  (i.e., the material typically used to produce optical fiber) is significantly higher for shorter wavelengths than for longer wavelengths. As a result, shorter wavelengths of light within a pulse of light generated by an LED do not pass through an optical fiber at the same speed as longer wavelengths of light within the same pulse of light. This effect, known as dispersion or group dispersion, has the effect of physically and temporally stretching a pulse of light. Such pulse stretching reduces the maximum transmission rate that can be achieved, using broader spectrum LED-generated light, to below the maximum transmission rate that could otherwise be achieved using narrower spectrum laser-generated light. For this reason, the trend in fiber-optic-based communication has been to use narrow-bandwidth laser light in order to maximize transmission rates by reducing the effects of dispersion. Use of a narrow-bandwidth of light also maximizes the number of wavelength-based channels that may be simultaneously transmitted within any given spectral range, thereby further increasing total optical fiber data throughput.  
         [0034]     Fortunately, dispersion plays a far less significant role in the transmission of light through free space. As demonstrated by  FIG. 4 , the change in the index of refraction of humid air  400  for the same spectrum of wavelengths represented in  FIG. 3 , is significantly less than the change in the index of refraction of optical fiber fused silica. In fact, the slope representing the change in index of refraction (dn) versus the change in wavelength (dλ), or (dn/dλ), as shown in  FIG. 4 , is approximately four orders of magnitude lower for humid air than for fused silica over the same range of wavelengths.  
         [0035]     As a result, and in accordance with the present invention, broader spectrum phase incoherent light may be used in a free space optical transmission system to eliminate the effects of atmospheric speckle without experiencing the negative performance due to dispersion that is encountered by broader spectrum light in optical-fiber-based systems.  
         [0036]     For example, the bit rate capability of an SLED illuminated free space optical link may be determined from the relationship described below by EQ: 
 
BLDσ λ ≦ 1/10   (EQ 1) 
 
 with D defined as the dispersion parameter, as described below by EQ2:  
             D   =       1   c     ⁢       ⅆ   n       ⅆ   λ                 (     EQ   ⁢           ⁢   2     )             
 
 wherein B is the bit rate, L is the link distance, c is the speed of light, and σ λ  is the spectral width of the SLED. Assuming a dispersion parameter for the atmosphere is D atmos ≈2.8 fs/(km·nm) for a typical SLED bandwidth of 40 nm or less, a Bit-rate Length product of 893(Gb/s)-km results. Based upon the relationships described by EQ1 and EQ2, free space optical communication at 2.5 Gbps for link distances in excess of 350 km may be achieved. Further, based upon the relationships described by EQ1 and EQ2, free space optical communication at 10 Gbps for link distances of approximately 90 km may be achieved. Note that these calculations assume that the entire path through which the beam of light travels is a stable atmosphere at 100% humidity. Further, EQ1 assumes that a bit slot may not be broadened any more than 10%. EQ1 and EQ2 demonstrate that phase incoherent light produced with an SLED may be used in virtually any free space communication system in which laser-generated light is conventionally used. 
 
         [0037]     A common misconception regarding the broader spectrum and phase incoherent light emitted by an SLED is that a beam of such light can not produce as narrow a beam divergence as can be achieved using the narrower spectrum and phase-coherent light produced with a laser. In fact, a beam produced with an SLED does not have a larger divergence than a comparable beam produced with a laser. The divergences are identical. There is no “power penalty” through the use of SLEDs as compared with lasers.  
         [0038]     The physical equation that governs the limiting divergence of a diffraction-limited beam of light is given by EQ3, below: 
 
θ≅2.44 λ/D  (EQ3) 
 
 wherein θ is the full-width beam divergence, D is the diameter of a telescope aperture (or diameter of the collimated beam at the aperture), and λ is the wavelength. Although EQ3 assumes a uniform beam illumination, as opposed to the Gaussian illumination of a laser beam, the correction to EQ3 due to Gaussian apodization is minor and results in only a minor increase in the determined divergence value. Note that there is no phase coherence term in EQ3; therefore, the phase characteristics of a beam of light have no effect upon the divergence of the beam. The broader bandwidth of the SLED means that the divergence of the beam is dictated by the longer wavelengths, but this is also true of laser-generated beams. 
 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  presents a block diagram of a free space optical transmitter  502  and a free space optical receiver  504  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , free space optical transmitter  502  may include phase incoherent light source  506 , optional optical fiber  508 , optional light modulator  510 , optional light amplifier  512 , collimating optics  514 , which may include a lens or a mirror, and optional propagation optics/controls  516 . Free space optical receiver  504  may include optional reception optics/controls  518 , receiving lens  520 , optional optical fiber  522 , light detector  524  and optional signal demodulator  526 .  
         [0040]     If the optional components identified for free space optical transmitter  502  are excluded, an unmodulated phase incoherent free space beacon transmitter is achieved that includes phase incoherent light source  506  and a collimating optics  514  that collimates light received from phase incoherent light source  506  and propagates the collimated light across a free space to free space optical receiver  504 . Such an embodiment may be used to propagate an unmodulated incoherent light beam to an optical receiver across a significant free space distance, as described above with respect to EQ1 and EQ2.  
         [0041]     However, with the addition of one or more of the optional components shown in  FIG. 5 , a high-speed phase incoherent free space optical transmitter may be achieved that is capable of providing high-speed transmission rates over significant distances while greatly reducing the impact of atmospheric speckle, as described above. In such an embodiment, phase incoherent light source  506  may be a fiber-coupled superluminescent light emitting diode (SLED) that emits a phase incoherent beam of approximately 20 mW of power over a spectral range of as little as 35 nm into optional optical fiber  508 . Optical fiber  508  may be used to route the generated phase incoherent light between the other modules included in free space optical transmitter  502 , namely an optional light modulator  510 , and optional light amplifier  512 , collimating optics  514  and propagation optics/controls  516 .  
         [0042]     With respect to optional light modulator  510 , there are many methods that may be used to modulate data upon an optical beam of light. One popular approach is to “turn off” or “turn on” the optical beam signal to represent a bit slot. Such an On-Off approach may use a Return to Zero (RZ) or a Non Return to Zero (NRZ) method. It should be noted that SLEDs are not well suited for internal modulation at high data rates. Given that SLED light emission is based upon a process of spontaneous emission, as described above, the upper energy state lifetime of the semiconductor material may be too long for internal modulation to allow high data rates. Fortunately, SLED-generated light may be modulated using the same external modulation techniques conventionally used with laser-generated light, as described below.  
         [0043]     In one exemplary, externally-modulated embodiment, optional light modulator  510  may be implemented using a Lithium Niobate (LiNiO 3 ) Mach-Zender interferometer. Such a device breaks a beam of light into two beams, inserts a π phase delay into one of the beams whenever a “0” is needed and inserts no phase delay when a “1” is needed. Recombining the two beams results in mutual interference that causes the combined beam to turn off or turn on, respectively. Even though a beam of light generated with an SLED has a broader spectrum than light generated with a laser, SLED-generated light is still narrow enough for an LiNiO 3  modulator to work well. For reliable free space optical communications, an extinction ratio of at least 20 dB should be used. A beam of light generated with an SLED with a spectrum as wide as 40 nm will experience an extinction ratio near 40 dB using a standard Lithium Niobate Mach-Zender type data modulator. Band limiting an SLED for purpose such as wave division multiplexing, as described below, further increases this extinction ratio.  
         [0044]     If the distance to be supported by the optical free space link requires power greater than the phase incoherent light source  506  can generate, optional light amplifier  512  may be included to amplify the incoherent light (optionally modulated) emitted from phase incoherent light source  506 . For example, an Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) may receive light from optional light modulator  510  via optional optical fiber  508  and amplify the received light.  
         [0045]     An EDFA amplifies light coherently. Any incoming phase is reproduced in the amplified signal. Given that the light received by optional light amplifier  512  is incoherent, the output generated by optional EDFA light amplifier  510  is also incoherent, but at an amplified intensity. To help clarify this point, consider a SLED with a 1 mW output. There are millions of billions of photons being generated (about 8 million-billion photons per second), and each photon can be thought of as having a unique phase. These photons may be amplified through the EDFA, for example to an output power of 20 W. To achieve such amplification, each photon is amplified 43 dB. So, one individual photon that has a given phase has been transformed into 20,000 photons with the same phase. Although these 20,000 photons will interfere with one another in the same manner as coherent light generated by a laser interferes with itself, as described above, there are still millions of billions of other photons with which these amplified coherent photons will not interfere. Therefore, amplifying phase incoherent light generated by an SLED through the use of any coherent amplifier, such as an EDFA, produces no significant degradation in performance. In one alternate embodiment, the need for optional light amplifier  512  may be avoided by using multiple SLEDs to pump the same optical fiber. Such an approach substantially reduces the cost of high-power SLED communication by eliminating the need for an EDFA.  
         [0046]     Collimating optics  514  receives phase incoherent light (which, optionally, has been modulated and/or amplified) and collimates the received light. For example, if free space optical transmitter  502  is configured to propagate light directly from the collimating optics, a gradient index (GRIN) lens may be used to collimate light received via optional optical fiber  508  by gradually varying the index of refraction within the lens material of the optical element. By precisely controlling a radial variation of the lens material&#39;s index of refraction from the optical axis to the edge of the lens, the GRIN lens may smoothly and continually redirect light beam into a collimated beam without the need to tightly-control the surface curvature. An anti-reflective coating may be applied to the end face of the GRIN lens to avoid unwanted back reflection. Alternatively, collimating optics  514  may be a conventional lens or mirror that receives optionally modulated and optionally amplified phase incoherent light via optional optical fiber  508  and collimates the received light.  
         [0047]     Depending upon the distance and nature of the link to be supported by free space optical transmitter  502  an embodiment may optionally include optical beam propagation optics and/or active pointing and tracking controls  516 . For example, collimating optics  514  may project collimated light upon a lens or mirror of a telescope. Such propagation optics may be part of an active pointing and tracking control system designed to reduce scintillation due to beam wander, as described above. Depending upon the distance supported by the optical link, however, such propagation optics and beam controls may not be required.  
         [0048]     Active pointing and tracking techniques typically make use of a sensor that is placed at the focal point of a telescope. In laser-based optical links the phase coherence of the laser-generated light produces speckle patterns at the focal point of the telescope similar to that described with respect to  FIG. 1 , but to a somewhat lesser degree. As described above, the deep fades that occur from speckle can last as long as several refresh rates of the active pointing and tracking control system. This lack of information leaves not only a gap in the data stream but also a gap in the pointing information. When the fade has passed, the control system is required to make larger corrections in order to “catch up” to where it should have been had there not been a loss in signal. Therefore, by reducing and/or eliminating the deep fades due to speckle, the present invention facilitates more accurate pointing and tracking and thereby further reduces contributions to scintillation caused by beam wander.  
         [0049]     In one exemplary embodiment, the free space optical transmitter of the present invention is configured to perform wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). Assuming that the phase incoherent light source  506  is an SLED that produces approximately 20 mW of power over a spectral range of 35 nm, an exemplary WDM embodiment may break the bandwidth of 35 nm into 4 channels with 8 nm spacing, each channel having a bandwidth of 6 nm with each channel modulated by a light modulator at up to 10 Gbps per wavelength channel.  
         [0050]     In laser-based systems, wavelength division multiplexing is commonly used in which channel spacings are 100 GHz wide. Each channel uses a laser with a linewidth of a fraction of a nanometer. For a SLED to work in such a system, its wavelength band would have to be limited to less than 0.5 nm. For a 20 mW SLED that produces a 35 nm linewidth, such a band limited SLED would have a power of less than 250 μwatts, which may not be sufficient power for some applications. However, by using multiple SLEDs to pump the same fiber, or by amplifying the light using light amplifiers, additional power per wavelength channel may be generated, if needed.  
         [0051]     One advantage of such an SLED-based WDM embodiment, in which each wavelength channel is established by band-filtering light emitted from an SLED, is that each wavelength channel would remain stable under extreme environmental conditions that would otherwise affect the wavelength stability of a similar, laser-based WDM implementation. Therefore, such an SLED-based WDM embodiment would be capable of operating under extreme environmental conditions that would cause a laser-based WDM implementation to fail due to wavelength instability caused by the effect of extreme heat and/or extreme cold upon internal laser processes.  
         [0052]     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , free space optical receiver  504  may include optional reception optics/controls  518 , receiving lens  520 , optional optical fiber  522 , light detector  524  and optional signal demodulator  526 . The components included within free space optical receiver  504  may be matched to support the components and features included in free space optical transmitter  502 , as described above.  
         [0053]     If free space optical transmitter  502  is configured as an unmodulated phase incoherent free space beacon, by excluding optional components identified for free space optical transmitter  502 , free space optical receiver  504  may be similarly configured. Such an exemplary optical receiver embodiment may include receiving lens  520  to receive the incoherent beam of light from free space and to focus the received beam of light upon a light detector  524  that is capable of detecting the presence or absence of light. Such an embodiment may be used to receive an unmodulated incoherent light beam from free space optical transmitter  502  across a significant free space distance, as described above with respect to EQ1 and EQ2, and may be incorporated within a larger system that is notified by light detector  524  of the presence or absence of a light signal from free space optical transmitter  502 .  
         [0054]     However, if free space optical transmitter  502  is configured as a high-speed phase incoherent free space optical transmitter, capable of achieving high-speed optical transmission rates over significant distances while greatly reducing the impact of atmospheric speckle, as described above, free space optical receiver  504  may be configured to receive and process high-speed optical transmissions.  
         [0055]     In such an embodiment, free space optical receiver  504  may include optional reception optics/controls  518 , receiving lens  520 , optional optical fiber  522 , light detector  524  and optional signal modulator  526 . As described above with respect to free space optical transmitter  502 , optional optical reception optics/controls  518  may include reception optics, such as a telescope and/or active pointing and tracking controls. Receiving lens  520  may be any conventional or GRIN based lens capable of receiving light, either directly from free space or from the optional reception optics/controls component  518 , and focusing the received light upon light detector  524 , either directly, or upon optional optical fiber  522  for transmission by optical fiber to light detector  524 . Light detector  524 , may generate an electronic signal based upon the absence or presence of received light and may convey the electronic signal to signal demodulator  526  for demodulation and further processing by the system, or network to which optical receiver  504  is integrated.  
         [0056]      FIG. 6  is a process flow diagram for transmitting a beam of incoherent light using an exemplary embodiment of an incoherent optical beam transmitter, as described above with respect to  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , in one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a beam of phase incoherent light may be generated, at step  602 , collimated at step  608 , and propagated at step  610 , into free space in the direction of an optical receiver or other target. Such a simplified process results in the propagation of an incoherent beam of light that is not corrupted by the effects of speckle and therefore increases the power and uniformity of light hitting the optical receiver or selected target.  
         [0057]     As further shown in  FIG. 6 , in an embodiment of the invention in which an incoherent beam is used for high-speed data transmission, additional steps may be included within the process flow. For example, upon generating a phase incoherent beam of light, at step  602 , the generated beam may be modulated, at step  604 , amplified to a required power level, at step  606 , and collimated, at step  608 , prior to propagation across a free space, at step  610 , in the direction of an optical receiver or selected target.  
         [0058]     As described above with respect to  FIG. 5 , block  506 , any phase incoherent light source may be used, at step  602 , such as an LED, fiber coupled LED, SLED, fiber coupled SLED, or any other phase incoherent light source. The intensity of the phase incoherent beam of light, at step  602 , may be determined using criteria that includes, but is not limited to, the free space link distance, the degree of atmospheric dispersion expected or experienced across the free space link distance and the level of power desired at the receiving device.  
         [0059]     As described above with respect to  FIG. 5 , block  510 , any form of internal or external modulation may be used, at step  604 , to modulate data upon a transmitted optical beam. For example, an incoherent beam generated at step  602  may be modulated using a Lithium Niobate Mach-Zender interferometer to turn the generated incoherent beam on and off and to thereby encode data upon the beam of light.  
         [0060]     As described above with respect to  FIG. 5 , block  512 , an optionally modulated incoherent beam may be amplified, at step  606 , prior to propagation across free space. Such amplification is optional depending upon the intensity of the incoherent beam generated at step  602 . The need for optional amplification may be determined using criteria that includes, but is not limited to, the free space link distance, the degree of atmospheric absorption expected or experienced across the free space link and the level of power desired at the receiving device. For many optical link distances, assuming that an SLED is used, amplification may not be necessary, as described above with respect to EQ1, EQ2 and EQ3. However, if optical beam amplification is necessary, amplification of a beam is preferably performed after the beam has been modulated due to input power limitations commonly associated with conventional data modulators and WDM multiplexors, described above.  
         [0061]     As described above with respect to  FIG. 5 , block  514 , an optionally modulated, optionally amplified incoherent beam may be collimated, at step  608 , using a collimating optic lens or mirror prior to propagation across free space. The manner in which a received beam is collimated depends largely upon the how the generated beam of light is transferred to the collimating optic lens or mirror. If, for example, the generated beam of incoherent light is not coupled to an optical fiber, a conventional lens or mirror may be used to collimate the generated beam. However, if the generated beam of incoherent light has been coupled to an optical fiber (e.g., through use of an optical-fiber-coupled SLED) either a GRIN lens or a conventional lens or mirror may be used to collimate the beam of light.  
         [0062]     As described above with respect to  FIG. 5 , block  516 , a collimated beam of incoherent light may be propagated, at step  610 , directly across a free space or propagation of the incoherent beam may be assisted with the use of propagation optics, such as a telescope, and/or the use of active pointing and tracking controls. Although the effects of scintillation in the transmitted beam are substantially reduced through the use of a phase incoherent beam, in accordance with the present invention, active pointing and tracking controls may still be required to avoid scintillation due to beam wander, as described above. Fortunately, elimination of speckle in a transmitted beam increases the effectiveness of conventional active pointing and tracking controls, resulting in a further reduction in scintillation due to beam wander, as described above.  
         [0063]      FIG. 7  is a process flow diagram for receiving a beam of incoherent light using an exemplary embodiment of an incoherent optical beam receiver, as described above with respect to  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , an incoherent beam is received, at step  702 , and focused upon a light detection device which detects the presence or absence of light, at step  704 . As described above with respect to  FIG. 5 , blocks  518 - 522 , a collimated beam of incoherent light may be received, at step  702 , by a receiving lens either directly from free space or via an optional reception optics/controls module, such as a telescope and/or an active pointing and tracking control system. The received beam of light may be focused upon a light detector, either directly, or transmitted to a light detector via an optional optical fiber pathway. Typically the light detection device produces an electromagnetic signal based upon the presence of absence of detected light. Depending upon the nature of the reception, no further processing is required. However, if the incoherent beam is modulated, the light detection device typically acts as a transducer that produces an electronic signal based upon the absence or presence of light. In such a case, the electronic signal may be optionally demodulated, at step  706 , to retrieve information encoded upon the received phase incoherent beam of light.  
         [0064]      FIG. 8  is a representative comparison of expected power measurements as may be recorded by a free space optical receiver for an incoherent beam of light and a coherent beam of light, each of the same initial intensity, after each beam has passed through the same atmospheric turbulence. Curve  802  presents a representative plot of expected power that may be delivered by the incoherent optical beam to a target or receiver. As described above, and as represented by curve  802 , such an incoherent beam is not affected by speckle, but may still include scintillation as a result of beam wander introduced by atmospheric turbulence. Curve  804  presents a representative plot of expected power that may be delivered by the coherent optical beam to a target or receiver. As described above, and as represented by curve  804 , such a received coherent beam may include scintillation as a result of speckle as well as beam wander introduced by atmospheric turbulence. As demonstrated in  FIG. 8 , power measurements for a coherent beam (i.e., curve  804 ) may be expected to conform with a power envelope defined by scintillation due to beam wander (i.e., the power envelope defined by incoherent beam  802 ), yet include additional losses of power as a result of scintillation due to speckle.  
         [0065]     It may be appreciated that the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings represent only a few of the many ways of applying incoherent light to reduce scintillation and improve the reliability of free space optical beam transmissions. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and variations of the method and apparatus described here may also be used to reduce scintillation and improve optical beam transmissions.  
         [0066]     The free space optical beam transmission system and components described here can be implemented in any number of hardware and software units, or modules, and is not limited to any specific hardware module and/or software module architecture. Each module may be implemented in any number of ways and is not limited in implementation to execute process flows precisely as described above. The free space optical beam transmission system described above and illustrated in the flow charts and diagrams may be modified in any manner that accomplishes the functions described herein. It is to be understood that various functions of the free space optical beam transmission system may be distributed in any manner among any quantity (e.g., one or more) of hardware and/or software modules or units, computer or processing systems or circuitry.  
         [0067]     The free space optical beam transmission system of the present invention is not limited to any particular use or purpose, but may be used within any optical system in which a beam of light may be transmitted across a free space for any purpose. For example, applications may range from an unmodulated directed beacon to a highly modulated multi-channel high-speed optical data link capable of transmitting data over a free space link at transmission rates as high and/or higher than conventional and future laser/coherent light based systems. Embodiments of the incoherent beam free space optical beam transmission system may include, but are not limited to, optical range finders, optical targeting systems, firearms and/or firearm adapters that propagate a beam of light in place of firing a solid projectile, vehicle speed tracking and monitoring systems (e.g., police motor vehicle speed limit enforcement “radar” systems), long range electronic security beams, and/or virtually any other system in which coherent laser beams may be used. Depending upon the nature of the application in which the free space optical beam transmission system of the present invention is used, such as targeting systems and speed tracking systems, an optical receiver may not be required.  
         [0068]     It is to be understood that processor based controls for data modulators, beam tracking and control systems and other modules included within the free space optical beam transmission system components may be implemented in any desired computer language and/or combination of computer languages, and could be developed by one of ordinary skill in the computer and/or programming arts based on the functional description contained herein and the flow charts illustrated in the drawings. Further, the free space optical beam transmission system may include commercially available components tailored in any manner to implement functions performed by the free space optical beam transmission system described here. Free space optical beam transmission system component software may be available or distributed via any suitable medium (e.g., stored on devices such as CD-ROM and diskette, downloaded from the Internet or other network via packets and/or carrier signals, downloaded from a bulletin board via carrier signals, or other conventional distribution mechanisms).  
         [0069]     The free space optical beam transmission system may accommodate any quantity and any type of data files and/or databases or other structures (e.g., ASCII, binary, plain text, or other file/directory service and/or database format, etc.) used to control any aspect of optical beam modulation and/or any other aspect of system component control. Further, any references herein to software, or commercially available applications, performing various functions generally refer to processors performing those functions under software control. Such processors may alternatively be implemented by hardware or other processing circuitry. The various functions of the free space optical beam transmission system may be distributed in any manner among any quantity (e.g., one or more) of hardware and/or software modules or units. Processing systems or circuitry, may be disposed locally or remotely of each other and communicate via any suitable communications medium (e.g., hardwire, wireless, etc.). The software and/or processes described above and illustrated in the flow charts and diagrams may be modified in any manner that accomplishes the functions described herein.  
         [0070]     From the foregoing description it may be appreciated that the present invention includes a method and apparatus for propagating a beam of optical light in which the effects of atmospheric turbulence upon the propagated optical beam are greatly reduced. By transmitting an optical beam that is substantially phase incoherent, the present invention greatly reduces scintillation in a received optical beam signal due to atmospheric speckle. Further, reducing the effects of atmospheric speckle increases the effectiveness of conventional active pointing and tracking techniques, thereby allowing additional reductions in optical beam scintillation by allowing contributions to signal scintillation due to beam wander to be further reduced.  
         [0071]     Having described preferred embodiments of a method and apparatus for free space optical communication using incoherent light, it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes may be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.