Impact of Divergence Angle on FSO System Performance: A Study of SNR, BER, and Q Factor
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Context: Free Space Optics (FSO) transmission is a promising alternative to conventional wired networks, offering high bandwidth, low latency, and enhanced security. However, FSO performance is highly sensitive to physical factors, particularly the divergence angle of the optical beam. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of beam divergence on key FSO system performance metrics to guide optimal system design. Method: MATLAB-based simulations were conducted to model Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Bit Error Rate (BER), and Q factor under varying divergence angles. The sensitivity of system performance to beam alignment and signal strength was analyzed across different divergence configurations. Results: Results indicate that smaller divergence angles provide higher SNR and Q factor values and lower BER, ensuring superior communication quality but requiring precise alignment. Conversely, larger divergence angles tolerate misalignment more effectively but at the cost of reduced signal quality. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the critical role of optimizing beam divergence to balance alignment tolerance and signal integrity, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reliability of optical wireless communication systems.
Article Details
Issue
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Articles published in SyCom are open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
How to Cite
References
[1] Z. Zhu, M. Janasik, A. Fyffe, et al., “Compensation-free high-dimensional free-space optical communication using turbulence-resilient vector beams”, Nature Communications, vol. 12, p. 1666, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21793-1
[2] Z. Zameer and K. A. Wahid, “Free space optics: Current applications and future challenges”, IEEE Access, vol. 8, pp. 154243–154254, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/945483
[3] H. Khalid, S. M. Sajid, H. E. Nistazakis, and M. Ijaz, “Survey on limitations, applications and challenges for machine learning aided hybrid FSO/RF systems under fog and smog influence”, J. Mod. Opt., vol. 71, no. 4–6, pp. 101–125, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500340.2024.2402428
[4] I. A. Alimi and P. P. Monteiro, “Revolutionizing free-space optics: A survey of enabling technologies, challenges, trends, and prospects of beyond 5G free-space optical (FSO) communication systems”; Sensors, vol. 24, no. 24, p. 8036, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24248036
[5] E. Vasani and V. Shah, “Spectrum slicing-based performance analysis of free space optical communication under atmospheric turbulence”, J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. B, vol. 104, pp. 319–326, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40031-022-00832-5
[6] X. Sun, C. H. Kang, M. Kong, O. Alkhazragi, Y. Guo, M. Ouhssain, Y. Weng, B. H. Jones, T. K. Ng, and B. S. Ooi, “A review on practical considerations and solutions in underwater wireless optical communication”, J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 38, pp. 421–431, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2019.2960131
[7] A. Sufyan, K. B. Khan, O. A. Khashan, T. Mir, and U. Mir, “From 5G to beyond 5G: A comprehensive survey of wireless network evolution, challenges, and promising technologies”, Electronics, vol. 12, no. 10, p. 2200, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12102200
[8] Q. V. Khanh, V. H. Nam, L. D. Manh, and G. Jeon, “Wireless communication technologies for IoT in 5G: Vision, applications, and challenges”, Wireless Commun. Mobile Comput., vol. 2022, Art. no. 3229294, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3229294
[9] T. Mazhar, M. A. Malik, I. Haq, I. Rozeela, I. Ullah, M. A. Khan, D. Adhikari, M. T. Ben Othman, and H. Hamam, “The role of ML, AI and 5G technology in smart energy and smart building management”, Electronics, vol. 11, no. 23, p. 3960, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11233960
[10] A. Mukhopadhyay and M. Ruffini, “Design methodology for wireless backhaul/fronthaul using free space optics and fibers”, J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 41, pp. 17–30, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2022.3210524
[11] P. Bhardwaj, V. Bansal, N. Biyani, S. Shukla, and S. M. Zafaruddin, “Performance of integrated IoT network with hybrid mmWave/FSO/THz backhaul link”, IEEE Internet Things J., vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 3639–3652, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2023.3297881
[12] F. Khalid and M. A. Ali, “Performance of free space optical communication link under foggy weather” J. Commun., vol. 14, pp. 518–523, 2019. https://doi.org/10.5220/0011946200003612
[13] M. Meucci, M. Aresti, G. Cossu, L. Gilli, L. Oliviero, M. Bartolini, A. Pucci, E. Ciaramella, and J. Catani, “Comparative test of novel fluorescent optical antennas for LED- and laser-based optical wireless communications” Adv. Opt. Mater., 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202402367
[14] S. W. Sun and J. H. Noh, “End-to-End Performance Analysis of CCSDS O3K Optical Communication System Under Atmospheric Turbulence and Pointing Errors” Aerospace, vol. 12, no. 10, p. 869, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12100869
[15] H. Wang, Y. Wang, X. Peng, L. Liu, Y. Cai, and F. Wang, “Real-time synthesis of twisted Gaussian Schell-model beams and their applications in suppressing the turbulence-induced scintillation and beam wander”, Opt. Lett., vol. 50, no. 13, pp. 4342–4345, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.564963
[16] U. Younas, J. Muhammad, H. F. Ismael, T. A. Sulaiman, H. Emadifar, and K. K. Ahmed, “Diversity of solitary wave structures in Kerr media: Analyzing the complex paraxial wave equation in fiber optic communication systems”, Ain Shams Eng. J., 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2025.103763
[17] G. Zhang, J. Wu, Y. Li, X. Wang, X. Yu, S. Gao, and L. Ma, “A review of variable-beam divergence angle FSO communication systems”, Photonics, vol. 10, no. 7, p. 756, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics10070756
[18] S. M. Hamzah and I. A. Murdas, “Enhancement of the performance of DWDM free space optics (FSO) communications systems under different weather conditions”, Int. J. Intell. Eng. Syst., vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 446–456, 2020. https://doi.org/10.22266/ijies2020.0831.39
[19] K. Kumar, M. S. Adhikari, I. Bhardwaj, S. Chawla, and M. Sindhwani, “Performance enhancement of Q factor and BER using Raman amplification in optical communication system”, J. Opt. Commun., 2025. https://doi.org/10.1515/joc-2025-0469
[20] H. Djellab, et al., “FSO system optimization for 6G applications: Using metaheuristic algorithms”, IEEE Access, vol. 13, pp. 193508–193526, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3629005