On the performance of wireless optical communication systems in underwater channels

In this paper, we investigate the probability of error for an optical wireless communication system employing binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) subcarrier intensity modulation (SIM) in underwater communication channel. The communication channel through which the Gaussian beam is propagating is assumed to be log-normal distributed, that is valid for the weakly turbulent regime. The receiver is a PIN-type point photo detector. Results are obtained for various parameters of the underwater turbulent medium, Gaussian beam, and receiver, which include the average temperature and salinity concentration, the dissipation rates of temperature and energy, temperature-salinity gradient ratio, wavelength, link distance. Results underscore the destructive impact of turbulence on the performance of underwater optical wireless communication.