BER Performance of FSO Links over Strong Atmospheric Turbulence Channels with Pointing Errors

Abstract

In this letter, we investigate the error rate performance of free-space optical (FSO) links over strong turbulence fading channels together with misalignment (pointing error) effects. First, we present a novel closed-form expression for the distribution of a stochastic FSO channel model which takes into account both atmospheric turbulence-induced fading and misalignment-induced fading. Then, we evaluate the average bit-error rate in closed form of a FSO system operating in this channel environment, assuming intensity modulation/direct detection with on-off keying. Numerical examples are further provided to collaborate on the derived analytical expressions.