Abstract

Besides the continuing expansion of optical fiber networks to satisfy needs for larger capacity and flexibility on the internet, recently there has been also a growing interest in implementing both horizontal (ground-to-ground) and vertical (ground-to-space) space laser links (SLL). Transmitting through the atmosphere brings along the benefits of a direct point-to-point link but, on the other hand, causes beam wander and wavefront distortion that have to be compensated for in order to guarantee a stable and error-free communications link

© 2000 IEEE