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Electronics
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Emerging Application of Optical Wireless Communication Technologies in 6G Communication
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Emerging Application of Optical Wireless Communication Technologies in 6G Communication

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Microwave and Wireless Communications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 July 2022) | Viewed by 7903

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Konstantinos Peppas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Peloponnese, 22100 Tripoli, Greece
Interests: wireless communications; digital communications; MIMO Systems; wireless; cooperative communications; cognitive radio
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Hector E. Nistazakis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Section of Electronic Physics and Systems, Department of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
Interests: wireless communication systems; free space optical communications (FSO); fiber optics communications; electronic physics; nonlinear optoelectronic circuits
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Assoc. Prof. Andreas D. Tsigopoulos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sector of Battle Systems, Naval Operations, Sea Studies, Navigation, Electronics and Telecommunications, Hellenic Naval Academy, Hadjikyriakou Ave., GR-185 39 Piraeus, Greece
Interests: optical wireless communications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

While 5G technologies are rapidly being commercialized, with the first 5G networks being rolled out in 2019 and expected to be deployed around most of the world by the end of 2020, research on 6G is already underway, aiming to address the coming challenges regarding the drastic increase in wireless data traffic and support for other application scenarios. 6G is expected to extend 5G’s capabilities even further. There have been an increasing number of beyond 5G and 6G-related workshops and panels to obtain a consensus regarding the technologies that could make up 6G or the problems that 6G will solve.

The above developments create an increasing demand for a new spectrum, which extends to the optical spectrum for free-space communications. Fundamental issues such as higher system capacity, higher data rate, lower latency, higher security, and improved quality of service (QoS) are privileged areas of optical wireless communications (OWC) compared to radio systems. 

OWC technologies are envisioned for 6G communications in addition to RF-based communications for all possible device-to-access networks; these networks also access network-to-backhaul/fronthaul network connectivity. The FSO backhaul network is very promising for 6G communication systems, since data transfer in FSO systems is comparable with optical fiber systems. Hence, along with the optical fiber networks, FSO is an excellent technology for providing backhaul and cellular BS connectivity in 6G.

Moreover, OWC is not limited to backhaul use cases. It is greatly and increasingly considered suitable for mobile access networks, specifically low-latency, machine-type communications (such as car-to-car communications) beyond Gbps connectivity and up to Tbps for new mobile applications such as virtual and augmented reality. It is also considered for low-data-rate/low-power Internet of Things (IoT) applications and device-to-device communications. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques are now ready to pave the way for more efficient operation of wireless networks and enhance the overall user experience with new emerging applications that are expected to be implemented in 6G between 2027 and 2030. The transition from radio to subterahertz (sub-THz) and optical spectra (i.e., visible light communication) all-photonic radio access networks will constitute a new physical layer that is capable of accommodating all new services and applications envisaged for the 6G era.

In this Special Issue, we seek to explore emerging applications and technologies which will be suitable for beyond 5G and 6G and rely on OWC technology. We wish this Special Issue to offer an early platform to showcase and stimulate a lively debate on the 6G applications that OWC could support. We solicit and encourage researchers to present papers with original and recent developments covering various topics of interest that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Vision, key drivers, new services and requirements for 6G
  • OWC system and network architectures for 6G
  • OWC backhaul and fronthaul solutions
  • Spectrum and channel modeling for 5G and towards 6G
  • Energy efficiency and harvesting technologies
  • Multi-level machine learning pipelines in 5G and towards 6G
  • Massive MIMO and beamforming techniques for 6G systems
  • Propagation modeling on terahertz and optical spectrum
  • Optical wireless biomedical applications
  • Visible light communication systems
  • Atmospheric optical wireless links
  • Hybrid optical and RF/MMW links
  • Channel coding techniques for 6G optical wireless systems
  • Cooperative diversity techniques
  • Adaptive optics
  • 6G satellite communications
  • 5G and beyond towards 6G testbeds and experimentation
  • Security, secrecy and privacy schemes for 5G and towards 6G
  • Distributed computing for 5G and towards 6G
  • Quantum optics computing (QOC) and quantum Key Distribution (QKD) in 6G OWC systems
  • Quantum optical networks and quantum machine learning in 6G
  • Blockchain security and holography emerging technologies in 6G
  • Smart grid, IoT applications, UxVs applications of OWC in 6G
  • Mobile AI applications in 6G

We hope that this Special Issue will achieve a precise, concrete, and concise conclusion that contributes significantly to opening new horizons for future research directions.

Assoc. Prof. Konstantinos Peppas
Assoc. Prof. Hector E. Nistazakis
Assoc. Prof. Andreas D. Tsigopoulos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Electronics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Vision, key drivers, new services and requirements for 6G
  • OWC system and network architectures for 6G
  • OWC backhaul and fronthaul solutions
  • Spectrum and channel modeling for 5G and towards 6G
  • Energy efficiency and harvesting technologies
  • Multi-level machine learning pipelines in 5G and towards 6G
  • Massive MIMO and beamforming techniques for 6G systems
  • Propagation modeling on terahertz and optical spectrum
  • Optical wireless biomedical applications
  • Visible light communication systems
  • Atmospheric optical wireless links
  • Hybrid optical and RF/MMW links
  • Channel coding techniques for 6G optical wireless systems
  • Cooperative diversity techniques
  • Adaptive optics
  • 6G satellite communications
  • 5G and beyond towards 6G testbeds and experimentation
  • Security, secrecy and privacy schemes for 5G and towards 6G
  • Distributed computing for 5G and towards 6G
  • Quantum optics computing (QOC) and quantum Key Distribution (QKD) in 6G OWC systems
  • Quantum optical networks and quantum machine learning in 6G
  • Blockchain security and holography emerging technologies in 6G
  • Smart grid, IoT applications, UxVs applications of OWC in 6G
  • Mobile AI applications in 6G

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 1227 KiB  
Article
Outage Performance Estimation of a MISO FSO System with OOK Signaling and Alamouti Type Space-Time Coding
by Hira Khalid, Hector E. Nistazakis, Sajid S. Muhammad and Allah D. Raza
Electronics 2022, 11(14), 2220; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11142220 - 15 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1349
Abstract
In this work, multi input and single output optical wireless communication (OWC) links are analyzed, assuming the channel experiences fading due to atmospheric turbulence. OOK signaling and Alamouti-type space-time coding with intensity modulation and direct detection is assumed for weak to strong turbulence [...] Read more.
In this work, multi input and single output optical wireless communication (OWC) links are analyzed, assuming the channel experiences fading due to atmospheric turbulence. OOK signaling and Alamouti-type space-time coding with intensity modulation and direct detection is assumed for weak to strong turbulence conditions modeled with the gamma–gamma distribution and closed form analytical expressions for their outage probability are derived for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Finally, the corresponding numerical results are obtained, through the obtained mathematical expressions. Performance of a multi input and single output channel is analyzed for its outage probability as a function of power to noise ratio and normalized threshold. Three different cases for strong, medium, and weak turbulences are investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Application of Optical Wireless Communication Technologies in 6G Communication)
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16 pages, 8342 KiB  
Article
Testbed Emulator of Satellite-to-Ground FSO Downlink Affected by Atmospheric Seeing Including Scintillations and Clouds
by Hristo Ivanov, Frank Marzano, Erich Leitgeb and Pasha Bekhrad
Electronics 2022, 11(7), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11071102 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1938
Abstract
Free Space Optics (FSO) technology enabling next-generation near-Earth communication is prone to severe propagation losses due to atmospheric-turbulence-induced fading and Mie scattering (clouds). As an alternative to the real-time evaluation of the weather effects over optical signal, a state-of-the-art laboratory testbed for verification [...] Read more.
Free Space Optics (FSO) technology enabling next-generation near-Earth communication is prone to severe propagation losses due to atmospheric-turbulence-induced fading and Mie scattering (clouds). As an alternative to the real-time evaluation of the weather effects over optical signal, a state-of-the-art laboratory testbed for verification of slant APD-based (Avalanche Photodiode) FSO links in laboratory conditions is proposed. In particular, a hardware channel emulator representing an FSO channel by means of fiber-coupled Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) controlled by driver board and software is utilized. While atmospheric scintillation data are generated based on Radiosonde Observation (RAOB) databases combined with a statistical design approach, cloud attenuation is introduced using Mie theory together with empirical Log-Normal modeling. The estimation of atmospheric-turbulence-induced losses within the emulated optical downlink is done with an FSO IM/DD prototype (Intensity Modulation/Direct Detection) relying on two different data throughputs using a transmitter with external and internal modulation. Moreover, the receiver under-test is a high-speed 10 Gbps APD photodetector with integrated Transimpedance Amplifier (TIA) typically installed in OGSs (Optical Ground Stations) for LEO/GEO satellite communication. The overall testbed performance is addressed by a BER tester and a digital oscilloscope, providing BER graphs and eye diagrams that prove the applied approach for testing APD-TIA in the presence of weather-based disruptions. Furthermore, the testbed benefits from the used beam camera that measures the quality of the generated FSO beam. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Application of Optical Wireless Communication Technologies in 6G Communication)
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12 pages, 4760 KiB  
Article
An Enhanced Method for Dynamic Characterization of High-Power LEDs for Visible Light Communication Applications
by Juan S. Betancourt Perlaza, Juan C. Torres Zafra, Máximo Morales Céspedes, Iñaki Martínez-Sarriegui, Carlos I. del Valle and José M. Sánchez Pena
Electronics 2022, 11(3), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11030292 - 18 Jan 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1777
Abstract
Visible light communications (VLC) have been proposed for several applications beyond the traditional indoor scenarios, from vehicular to underwater communications. The common element in all these applications is the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in which the forward current that flows through each [...] Read more.
Visible light communications (VLC) have been proposed for several applications beyond the traditional indoor scenarios, from vehicular to underwater communications. The common element in all these applications is the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in which the forward current that flows through each LED plays a major role. Therefore, knowing the electrical equivalent of the LEDs is a useful tool for the proper design of the VLC systems. Currently, some measurement instruments exist, such as the LCR (inductance, capacitance, and resistance) meters or impedance analyzers to characterize the main parameters of the LEDs. However, these instruments and measurement procedures are subject to satisfying some requirements, such as a minimum value of the input impedance or the maximum forward current. In this work, the LED LXHL-BW02 is used to obtain its equivalent circuit, using different measurement methods and traditional methods of measurement with our proposed method. The equivalent model is implemented on the simulation tool LTSPICE. Our alternative method can be used for determining the electrical equivalent circuit of LEDs subject to high current variations at very high frequencies, in the MHz range, i.e., in an operating range for VLC applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Application of Optical Wireless Communication Technologies in 6G Communication)
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12 pages, 2052 KiB  
Article
Spatial Jitter Influence on the Average BLER Performance of SIMO FSO Links over Atmospheric Turbulence Channels
by Nikolaos A. Androutsos, Hector E. Nistazakis, Efstratios V. Chatzikontis, Argyris N. Stassinakis and George S. Tombras
Electronics 2021, 10(16), 2033; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10162033 - 22 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1678
Abstract
In the recent years, Free Space Optics (FSO) technology has attracted significant research and commercial interest mostly because of its many advantages in comparison with other radio systems used for point-to-point connections. However, the reliable operation of these systems significantly depends on the [...] Read more.
In the recent years, Free Space Optics (FSO) technology has attracted significant research and commercial interest mostly because of its many advantages in comparison with other radio systems used for point-to-point connections. However, the reliable operation of these systems significantly depends on the conditions of the atmosphere in the area in which the optical beam propagates. The most important of these conditions are atmospheric turbulence and the misalignment between the optical beam and the receiver, which is also known as the pointing errors effect. In this work, in order to obviate the performance mitigation caused by these phenomena, we examined the most widely accepted and one of the most effective techniques, i.e., the implementation of receivers’ diversity. Various metrics have been investigated to evaluate the performance of such systems, but most of them do not take into account that the ultra-fast modern optical communication systems use blocks of bits for the transmission and codes for the detection and/or correction of erroneous bits. Thus, by taking these aspects into account, in this work, we investigated the combined impact of spatial jitter and atmospheric turbulence on the total average block error rate of an optical wireless system with receivers’ diversity. Novel closed-form analytical formulas were derived. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Application of Optical Wireless Communication Technologies in 6G Communication)
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