Performance Analysis of Subcarrier Index Modulation OFDM in a DWDM-FSO link

Abstract

Free Space Optics (FSO) is a wireless optical communication system using light to establish high-capacity links between points without the need for physical cables. However, its susceptibility to atmospheric conditions such as fog, rain, and turbulence presents challenges to signal quality maintenance. To address this, Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), traditionally employed in fiber optics, is leveraged to optimize bandwidth utilization and scalability in high-capacity communications. The integration of DWDM into FSO systems offers redundancy and resilience against signal degradation induced by atmospheric conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a paper explores the performance of the Subcarrier Index Modulation Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (SIM-OFDM) technique within a DWDM-FSO system. The objective is to reinforce FSO link robustness and improve transmission rates. Through a comparative analysis with conventional OFDM in an Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel, the study reveals a notable Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) gain of at least 3dB with enhanced SIM-OFDM (ESIM-OFDM). Simulations, conducted with realistic parameters within the DWDM-FSO architecture, demonstrate that ESIM-OFDM modulation enables a transmission range of 2 km with an aggregated rate of 10.1 Gb/s. These results underscore the potential of SIM-OFDM in enhancing FSO system performance through the integration of DWDM technology. The proposed ESIM-OFDM DWDM-FSO scenario could represent a highly interesting solution for establishing 5G Backhaul links.