Optical repetition MIMO transmission with multipulse PPM

We study the use of multiple laser transmitters combined with multiple photodetectors for atmospheric, line-of-sight optical communication, and focus upon the use of multiple-pulse-position-modulation as a power-efficient transmission format, with signal repetition across the laser array. Ideal (photon counting) photodetectors are assumed, with and without background radiation. The resulting multiple-input/multiple-output channel has the potential for combating fading effects on turbulent optical channels, for which both log-normal and Rayleigh-fading models are treated. Our focus is upon symbol error probability for uncoded transmission, and on capacity for coded transmission. Full spatial diversity is obtained naturally in this application.