Free Space Optics Communications

ALSO CALLED: FSO, FSP, Free Space Optics, Wireless Optics, Free Space Photonics, FSO Communications, Free-Space Optics, Optical Wireless
DEFINITION: Free-space optics (FSO), also called free-space photonics (FSP), refers to the transmission of modulated visible or infrared ( IR ) beams through the atmosphere to obtain broadband communications. Most frequently, laser beams are used, although non-lasing sources such as light-emitting diodes ( LED s) or IR-emitting diodes (IREDs) will serve the purpose.The theory of FSO is essentially the same as  … 
Definition continues below.

FREE SPACE OPTICS COMMUNICATIONS DEFINITION (continued): …  that for fiber optic transmission. The difference is that the energy beam is collimated and sent through clear air or space from the source to the destination, rather than guided through an optical fiber. If the energy source does not produce a sufficiently parallel beam to travel the required distance, collimation can be done with lenses. At the source, the visible or IR energy is modulated with the data to be transmitted. At the destination, the beam is intercepted by a photodetector, the data is extracted from the visible or IR beam (demodulated), and the resulting signal is amplified and sent … 
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