# Performance Evaluation of IM/DD FSO Communication System Under Dust Storm Conditions
###### Abstract  
Free-space optical (FSO) communication is a promising high-capacity solution for future wireless networks, particularly for backhaul and fronthaul links in 5G and emerging 6G systems. However, it remains highly vulnerable to environmental impairment, especially in arid regions prone to dust storms. While prior studies have addressed atmospheric effects such as fog and turbulence, the specific impact of dust on signal performance remains insufficiently explored. This work presents a probabilistic modeling framework for evaluating the performance of an intensity modulation/direct detection (IM/DD) FSO system under dust storm conditions. Using a controlled laboratory environment, we conducted measurements of the optical signal under dust-induced channel conditions using real-world dust samples collected from an actual dust storm. We identified the Beta distribution as the most accurate model for the measured signal fluctuations. Closed-form expressions were derived for average bit error rate (BER), outage probability, and channel capacity. The close agreement between the analytical, approximate, and simulated results validates the proposed model as a reliable tool for evaluating FSO system performance. The results show that the forward error correction (FEC) BER threshold of \(10^{-3}\) is achieved at approximately 10.5 dB, and the outage probability drops below \(10^{-3}\) at 10 dB average SNR. F 2025 13 288 26 May 2025 17 June  
have shown that visibility reduction can severely degrade signal quality during dust storm events, resulting in increased bit error rates and reduced system reliability. This vulnerability requires a comprehensive understanding of dust-induced impairment to ensure the robustness of FSO links in such challenging environments. The growing interest in FSO communications requires the accurate modeling of signal behavior under dust storm conditions, which remains scarce. Only a few studies have attempted to characterize signal attenuation using probabilistic approaches. In [7], the authors proposed a hybrid FSO/RF system incorporating a random dust attenuation model based on real-time visibility data collected from a meteorological station. However, their work did not include direct measurements of signal attenuation or intensity under dusty conditions, limiting the empirical validation of their model. In another study, [PERSON] et al. [8] employed the radiation propagation method and small angle approximation to analytically model signal attenuation in dusty environments. Their results indicated that the signal attenuation follows a negative exponential distribution. However, both studies fall short of providing a probabilistic model for the irradiance fluctuation of the received signal under dust storm conditions grounded in controlled experimental measurements. This underscores a clear gap in the literature and motivates the need for new models that reflect the statistical nature of dust-induced signal degradation using real-world data. Using controlled environments for investigating and modeling FSO systems under dust storm conditions was investigated in [9; 10; 11]. In ref. [9], an indoor experimental setup was constructed to evaluate the effects of varying sandstorm intensities on system parameters such as the quality factor (Q-factor) and bit error rate (BER), revealing significant performance degradation as particle density increases. A similar approach was taken in ref. [10], where a customized indoor chamber was proposed to generate and sustain controlled sandstorm environments over longer durations, offering an enhanced platform for evaluating FSO performance under repeatable conditions. Complementing these laboratory studies, ref. [11] presented a high-speed outdoor FSO experiment conducted under light dust-storm-controlled environment conditions. This study achieved a 1.08 Tbps data rate using a multicarrier full-optical system and investigated practical impairment such as receiver misalignment and solar heating.