Abstract

A channel-matched adaptive coherent receiver may be implemented using an array of receive apertures. After channel fading estimation, several replicas of a message received through the atmosphere are combined. Communication reliability is improved because of the low probability of simultaneous deep fades in all diversity channels. As an alternative to training-based channel estimation, we analyze the performance of sequential techniques for blind adaptation of multi-aperture channel-matched receivers in coherent laser communications.

© 2012 Optical Society of America