Mark A. Neifeld

Bio: Mark A. Neifeld is an academic researcher from University of Arizona. The author has contributed to research in topics: Iterative reconstruction & Error detection and correction. The author has an hindex of 37, co-authored 240 publications receiving 4684 citations.

Turbulence-induced channel crosstalk in an orbital angular momentum-multiplexed free-space optical link

Abstract: A multichannel free-space optical (FSO) communication system based on orbital angular momentum (OAM)-carrying beams is studied. We numerically analyze the effects of atmospheric turbulence on the system and find that turbulence induces attenuation and crosstalk among channels. Based on a model in which the constituent channels are binary symmetric and crosstalk is a Gaussian noise source, we find optimal sets of OAM states at each turbulence condition studied and determine the aggregate capacity of the multichannel system at those conditions. OAM-multiplexed FSO systems that operate in the weak turbulence regime are found to offer good performance. We verify that the aggregate capacity decreases as the turbulence increases. A per-channel bit-error rate evaluation is presented to show the uneven effects of crosstalk on the constituent channels.

The speed of information in a ‘fast-light’ optical medium

Abstract: One consequence of the special theory of relativity is that no signal can cause an effect outside the source light cone, the space-time surface on which light rays emanate from the source1. Violation of this principle of relativistic causality leads to paradoxes, such as that of an effect preceding its cause2. Recent experiments on optical pulse propagation in so-called ‘fast-light’ media—which are characterized by a wave group velocity υg exceeding the vacuum speed of light c or taking on negative values3—have led to renewed debate about the definition of the information velocity υi. One view is that υi = υg (ref. 4), which would violate causality, while another is that υi = c in all situations5, which would preserve causality. Here we find that the time to detect information propagating through a fast-light medium is slightly longer than the time required to detect the same information travelling through a vacuum, even though υg in the medium vastly exceeds c. Our observations are therefore consistent with relativistic causality and help to resolve the controversies surrounding superluminal pulse propagation.

Adaptive Waveform Design and Sequential Hypothesis Testing for Target Recognition With Active Sensors

Abstract: Cognitive radar is a recently proposed approach in which a radar system may adaptively and intelligently interrogate a propagation channel using all available knowledge including previous measurements, task priorities, and external databases. A distinguishing characteristic of cognitive radar is that it operates in a closed loop, which enables constant optimization in response to its changing understanding of the channel. In this paper, we compare two different waveform design techniques for use with active sensors operating in a target recognition application. We also propose the integration of waveform design with a sequential-hypothesis-testing framework that controls when hard decisions may be made with adequate confidence. The result is a system that updates multiple target hypotheses/classes based on measured data, customizes waveforms as the class probabilities change, and draws conclusions when sufficient understanding of the propagation channel is achieved

Experimental characterization of a 400 Gbit/s orbital angular momentum multiplexed free-space optical link over 120 m.

Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate and characterize the performance of a 400-Gbit/s orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexed free-space optical link over 120 m on the roof of a building. Four OAM beams, each carrying a 100-Gbit/s quadrature-phase-shift-keyed channel are multiplexed and transmitted. We investigate the influence of channel impairments on the received power, intermodal crosstalk among channels, and system power penalties. Without laser tracking and compensation systems, the measured received power and crosstalk among OAM channels fluctuate by 4.5 dB and 5 dB, respectively, over 180 s. For a beam displacement of 2 mm that corresponds to a pointing error less than 16.7 μrad, the link bit error rates are below the forward error correction threshold of 3.8×10−3 for all channels. Both experimental and simulation results show that power penalties increase rapidly when the displacement increases.

Distortion management in slow-light pulse delay

Abstract: We describe a methodology to maximize slow-light pulse delay subject to a constraint on the allowable pulse distortion. We show that optimizing over a larger number of physical variables can increase the distortion-constrained delay. We demonstrate these concepts by comparing the optimum slow-light pulse delay achievable using a single Lorentzian gain line with that achievable using a pair of closely-spaced gain lines. We predict that distortion management using a gain doublet can provide approximately a factor of 2 increase in slow-light pulse delay as compared with the optimum single-line delay. Experimental results employing Bril-louin gain in optical fiber confirm our theoretical predictions.

Fourier-transform method of fringe-pattern analysis for computer-based topography and interferometry

Abstract: A fast-Fourier-transform method of topography and interferometry is proposed. By computer processing of a noncontour type of fringe pattern, automatic discrimination is achieved between elevation and depression of the object or wave-front form, which has not been possible by the fringe-contour-generation techniques. The method has advantages over moire topography and conventional fringe-contour interferometry in both accuracy and sensitivity. Unlike fringe-scanning techniques, the method is easy to apply because it uses no moving components.

Terabit free-space data transmission employing orbital angular momentum multiplexing

Abstract: Researchers demonstrate the ability to multiplex and transfer data between twisted beams of light with different amounts of orbital angular momentum — a development that provides new opportunities for increasing the data capacity of free-space optical communications links.

Single-Pixel Imaging via Compressive Sampling

Abstract: In this article, the authors present a new approach to building simpler, smaller, and cheaper digital cameras that can operate efficiently across a broader spectral range than conventional silicon-based cameras. The approach fuses a new camera architecture based on a digital micromirror device with the new mathematical theory and algorithms of compressive sampling.

Sparse Representation for Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition

Abstract: Techniques from sparse signal representation are beginning to see significant impact in computer vision, often on nontraditional applications where the goal is not just to obtain a compact high-fidelity representation of the observed signal, but also to extract semantic information. The choice of dictionary plays a key role in bridging this gap: unconventional dictionaries consisting of, or learned from, the training samples themselves provide the key to obtaining state-of-the-art results and to attaching semantic meaning to sparse signal representations. Understanding the good performance of such unconventional dictionaries in turn demands new algorithmic and analytical techniques. This review paper highlights a few representative examples of how the interaction between sparse signal representation and computer vision can enrich both fields, and raises a number of open questions for further study.

Survey on Free Space Optical Communication: A Communication Theory Perspective

Abstract: Optical wireless communication (OWC) refers to transmission in unguided propagation media through the use of optical carriers, i.e., visible, infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) bands. In this survey, we focus on outdoor terrestrial OWC links which operate in near IR band. These are widely referred to as free space optical (FSO) communication in the literature. FSO systems are used for high rate communication between two fixed points over distances up to several kilometers. In comparison to radio-frequency (RF) counterparts, FSO links have a very high optical bandwidth available, allowing much higher data rates. They are appealing for a wide range of applications such as metropolitan area network (MAN) extension, local area network (LAN)-to-LAN connectivity, fiber back-up, backhaul for wireless cellular networks, disaster recovery, high definition TV and medical image/video transmission, wireless video surveillance/monitoring, and quantum key distribution among others. Despite the major advantages of FSO technology and variety of its application areas, its widespread use has been hampered by its rather disappointing link reliability particularly in long ranges due to atmospheric turbulence-induced fading and sensitivity to weather conditions. In the last five years or so, there has been a surge of interest in FSO research to address these major technical challenges. Several innovative physical layer concepts, originally introduced in the context of RF systems, such as multiple-input multiple-output communication, cooperative diversity, and adaptive transmission have been recently explored for the design of next generation FSO systems. In this paper, we present an up-to-date survey on FSO communication systems. The first part describes FSO channel models and transmitter/receiver structures. In the second part, we provide details on information theoretical limits of FSO channels and algorithmic-level system design research activities to approach these limits. Specific topics include advances in modulation, channel coding, spatial/cooperative diversity techniques, adaptive transmission, and hybrid RF/FSO systems.