Experimental Study of Underwater Wireless Optical Communication from Clean Water to Turbid Harbor under Various Conditions

Abstract

In this paper, texts were experimentally transmitted by pulse width modulation (PWM) using an underwater wireless optical communication system (UWOC) in a channel containing water of varying salinity as a result of changes in the concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl). Mathematical equations are used using a MATLAB program to compare theoretical and practical results at different slop angle (θ0). (NaCl) concentration was changed from (0% w/v) to (90% w/v) to achieve different salinity of water (i.e., from clear water to turbid water). A diode laser with a power of 30 mW and a wavelength of 532 nm has been employed in the transmitter. The experimental results show that the extinction coefficient or the overall attenuation C(λ) is equal to (0.083/m) in the water containing a low concentration of (NaCl) which is consistent with pure seawater. Additionally, the obtained optical power (PR) and the signal to noise ratio (S/N) decreases to (27.6) mW and (23.99) dB, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the water had a maximum total attenuation C(λ) equal to (2.565/m) in the water containing a high concentration of (NaCl) which was compatible with turbid harbour water, as well as the received power and (S/N) decreases to (2.306) mW and (13.2) dB, respectively. The theoretical results were similar to the practical results when the slope angle of the target or detector relative to the optical transmitter was (zero).