Andrea Ando

Recovery Capabilities of Rateless Codes on Simulated Turbulent Terrestrial Free Space Optics Channel Model

Free Space Optics (FSO) links are affected by several impairments: optical turbulence, scattering, absorption, and pointing. In particular, atmospheric optical turbulence generates optical power fluctuations at the receiver that can degrade communications with fading events, especially in high data rate links. Innovative solutions require an improvement of FSO link performances, together with testing models and appropriate channel codes. In this paper, we describe a high-resolution time-correlated channel model able to predict random temporal fluctuations of optical signal irradiance caused by optical turbulence. Concerning the same channel, we also report simulation results on the error mitigation performance of Luby Transform, Raptor, and RaptorQ codes.

Packet loss recovery in an indoor Free Space Optics link using rateless codes

Free Space Optics (FSO) systems present some important advantages if compared to Radio Frequency links, but they can be affected by several impairments that degrade the link quality and availability. In particular, due to temporary interruptions of the line-of-sight condition between the transmitter and the receiver, packet loss can occur during data transmission. In this work, we present an indoor Free Space Optics link, in which we have systematically generated interruptions of the beam. We demonstrate how the application of the most recent rateless codes, i.e., RaptorQ codes, can strongly improve the link quality by reducing packet loss. In particular, results show that the Packet Error Rate greatly decreases when employing RaptorQ codes. Finally, by choosing the most suitable encoding/decoding parameters, we can correctly recover all the lost packets, ensuring an error-free operation.

Parametrical study of multilayer structures for CIGS solar cells

In this paper, a numerical analysis of relevant electrical parameters of multilayer structures for CIGS-based solar cells was carried out, employing the simulation software wxAMPS. In particular, we have focused on thin film cells having a ZnO:Al/ZnO/CdS/CIGS structure with a Molybdenum back contact. The aim of this work is to establish good theoretical reference values for an ongoing experimental activity, where our technology of choice is the single-step electrodeposition. In detail, we have analyzed how the main electrical properties change with the bang gap and the thickness of the absorber layer, for such a type of solar cell structure. Our results show that both efficiency and fill factor strongly depend on the energy gap. Instead, the absorber thickness plays a role up to a few microns, after which the cell parameters remain almost constant. As expected, the theoretical peak efficiency was found for a band gap value of 1.40 eV, corresponding to a Ga/(In+Ga) ratio of 0.66.

Responsivity measurements of 4H-SiC Schottky photodiodes for UV light monitoring

We report on the design and the electro-optical characterization of a novel class of 4H-SiC vertical Schottky UV detectors, based on the pinch-off surface effect and obtained employing Ni2Si interdigitated strips. We have measured, in dark conditions, the forward and reverse I–V characteristics as a function of the temperature and the C–V characteristics. Responsivity measurements of the devices, as a function of the wavelength (in the 200 – 400 nm range), of the package temperature and of the applied reverse bias are reported. We compared devices featured by different strip pitch size, and found that the 10 μm device pitch exhibits the best results, being the best compromise in terms of full depletion and space-strip width ratio.

Rateless codes performance tests on terrestrial FSO time-correlated channel model

Free Space Optics (FSO) links are affected by several impairments: optical turbulence, scattering, absorption, and pointing. In particular, atmospheric optical turbulence generates optical power fluctuations at the receiver that can degrade communications with fading events, especially, in high data rate links. A way to mitigate FSO link outages can be to add a coding to communications. Nevertheless, in order to study innovative solutions (software or hardware) and to improve the FSO link performance it needs accurate testing models. In this paper we describe an accurate time-correlated channel model able to predict random temporal fluctuations of optical signal irradiance caused by optical turbulence. Moreover, concerning the same channel, we also report simulation results on the error mitigation performance of Luby-Transform, Raptor, and RaptorQ codes.

Experimental characterization of Ruthenium-based Dye Sensitized Solar Cells and study of light-soaking effect impact on performance

In this paper, we present an experimental investigation on the performance of Ruthenium-based Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) at different irradiance levels, incident wavelengths and hours of illumination. In particular, the measurements have been aimed at studying the performance variation due to light soaking effect since this phenomenon has noteworthy practical implications, such as stability tests of DSSCs. Our results show that the short circuit current density, the open circuit voltage and the conversion efficiency η increase with the hours of light soaking. Finally, the observed phenomenon is reversible, and thus the performance decreases again when the cell is kept in the dark.

Statistical analysis of RaptorQ failure probability applied to a data recovery software

In this work, we have implemented a data recovery software integrating the most recent rateless codes, i.e., RaptorQ codes. Thanks to the above-mentioned software, it is possible to recover data loss occurring on several kinds of network conditions. We have performed a statistical analysis of failure probabilities at several configurations of RaptorQ parameters. We have found a good agreement with the theoretical values of a random linear fountain code over Galois Field GF(256). Moreover, we have shown that the probability of having a certain number of failed decoded source blocks - when sending a fixed-size file - follows a Poisson distribution.

Fading mitigation coding techniques for space to ground free space optical communications

In this manuscript, a Geostationary satellite-to-ground Free Space Optics (FSO) downlink channel model has been implemented, which is able to predict temporal irradiance fluctuations caused by scintillation at a wide range of turbulence conditions and for different values of the zenith angle. In order to mitigate fading events that occur in FSO communications, we have also tested the performance of three different families of Rateless Codes (Luby Transform, Raptor and RaptorQ) into our model and found that RaptorQ is the best candidate to mitigate errors in FSO links.

CIGS PV module characteristic curves under chemical composition and thickness variations

This paper analyzes how the electrical characteristics of a CIGS photovoltaic module are affected by the chemical composition and by the thickness variations of the CIGS absorber. The electrical characteristics here considered are the short circuit current, the open circuit voltage, the efficiency and the power peak. The chemical composition is varied by tuning the ratio between gallium and indium. This analysis has been performed by means of the wxAMPS software, developed by the University of Illinois. The above variations have been taken into account on a PV module made of 72 cells. This analysis has been carried out employing a PV module mathematical model developed and implemented by the Authors in Matlab environment.

Remote optical monitoring in remotely power assisted passive optical networks

In this paper, the authors present the latest results on a simple and low cost method to achieve a dynamic and flexible network monitoring. By placing several fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) along the passive optical gigabit Ethernet infrastructure (GePON), the proposed modified optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) is able to monitor the entire system by simply tuning its working wavelength. Furthermore, the optical network terminals (ONT), at the end users premises, have been interconnected to the trunk via an innovative cable able to both carry the optical signal as well as the power supply.