Abstract

High data rate underwater laser communications are highly constrained by laser propagation characteristics in the marine environment. Many of these limitations are mitigated by using an optimally designed laser for seawater transmission, namely a compact blue-green laser. Digital data can be transmitted through seawater by an amplitude modulated laser beam that is detected by a remote optical receiver. The primary technical issue for this application is the distance over which error-free optical communication is possible. Maximum range for a laser beam propagating through seawater is in the hundreds of meters. Achievable distances are limited because optical signals transmitted through seawater are exponentially attenuated according to where I is the received optical signal strength, I_o is the initial optical signal strength, r is the transmission range, and c is the beam attenuation coefficient.

© 1992 Optical Society of America