Advances and Challenges in Free-Space Optics

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Communication and Network".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2027 | Viewed by 1045

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Communication Engineering, College of Electronic and Information Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China
Interests: atmospheric laser communication; spatial optical information processing; channel coding; channel equalization; photoelectric measurement technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Free-space optics (FSO) is a technology that uses lasers to transmit information in free space, offering advantages such as high bandwidth, fast rates, strong anti-interference capabilities, and flexible deployment, with no need for spectrum certification. FSO has demonstrated tremendous potential in fields such as satellite communication, long-distance ground transmission, interstellar links, and emergency communications, with promising development prospects. However, FSO systems still face key challenges in practical applications, such as atmospheric turbulence, weather conditions (e.g., fog, rain, snow), alignment stability, and transmission distance limitations. In recent years, with the development of optical devices, signal processing technology, and adaptive optics, significant progress has been achieved in the speed, reliability, and application scope of FSO. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent breakthroughs in research, advance cutting-edge exploration in this field, and provide theoretical and technical support for addressing core issues in practical implementations.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advances and challenges in the field of FSO, encompassing theoretical innovations, experimental validations, and system applications, among other aspects. The theme closely aligns with the journal’s scope in communications technology, optoelectronics, signal processing, and wireless networks, with a focus on areas such as high-performance optical system design, channel modeling, anti-interference techniques, intelligent optimization methods, and technology fusion (e.g., FSO/RF hybrid systems). Through this Special Issue, we hope to foster collaboration between academia and industry and promote the development of FSO technology toward higher efficiency, reliability, and practicality. Should at least 10 articles be accepted, the Special Issue may be published in book form.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews. Submission topics include, but are not limited to, the following areas: atmospheric channel modeling and turbulence compensation techniques; design of high-performance lasers and photodetectors; adaptive optics and beam control technologies; applications of quantum optical communication in free space; and enhancement schemes for transmission under adverse weather conditions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Xin Zhao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • FSO
  • channel modeling
  • laser
  • photodetectors
  • turbulence suppression
  • quantum optical communication

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 3041 KB  
Article
A Novel Scanning and Acquisition Method of Optical Phased Array for Space Laser Communication
by Ye Gu, Xiaonan Yu, Rui Weng, Guosheng Fan, Penglang Wang, Quanhan Wang, Naiyuan Liang, Dewang Liu, Shuai Chang, Dongxu Jiang and Shoufeng Tong
Photonics 2026, 13(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13010098 - 21 Jan 2026
Viewed by 652
Abstract
To meet the requirements of non-mechanical beam scanning and acquisition in space laser communication, this study proposes a two-dimensional scanning and acquisition method based on a silicon-based optical phased array (OPA). The OPA utilizes thermo-optic phase modulation to achieve horizontal beam pointing, while [...] Read more.
To meet the requirements of non-mechanical beam scanning and acquisition in space laser communication, this study proposes a two-dimensional scanning and acquisition method based on a silicon-based optical phased array (OPA). The OPA utilizes thermo-optic phase modulation to achieve horizontal beam pointing, while vertical beam pointing is controlled by wavelength tuning. By combining the OPA with a rectangular spiral scanning strategy, non-mechanical scanning is realized and beam acquisition experiments are carried out. Experimental results demonstrate that for an 8° step signal, the horizontal and vertical rise times are 156.8 μs and 214.76 ms, respectively. A full scan of 440 points covering a ±4° field of view is completed in 8.119 s. Acquisition experiments were conducted assuming a Gaussian-distributed uncertainty region (standard deviation σ=1°). Out of 106 independent trials, a success rate of 97.17% was achieved with an average acquisition time of 0.41 s. This work experimentally applies a rectangular spiral scanning strategy to an OPA-based acquisition system, addressing a capability that has been largely missing in previous studies. These results verify that the OPA technology has good scanning efficiency and acquisition robustness in space laser communication applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in Free-Space Optics)
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