title: Backscatter suppression for underwater modulating retroreflector links using polarization discrimination.
abstract: Free space optical links underwater have the potential to enable short range (<100 m) high-bandwidth (megabits per second) data links that have a low probability of detection and interception. The use of a retroreflecting free space optical link in water has the added advantage of allowing much of the weight and power burden of the link to remain at one end. While modulating retroreflectors have been successfully implemented in above-water links, the underwater environment introduces new challenges. The focus of this paper is to address these challenges and to investigate techniques for minimizing their effect on the link performance.
authors.affiliation: Naval Air Systems Command, NAVAIR, Electro-Optics and Special Mission Sensors Division, 22347 Cedar Point Road, Patuxent River, Maryland 20670, USA. linda.mullen@navy.mil
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cochenour
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rabinovich
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muth