UV communications channel modeling incorporating multiple scattering interactions

In large part because of advancements in the design and fabrication of UV LEDs, photodetectors, and filters, significant research interest has recently been focused on non-line-of-sight UV communication systems. This research in, for example, system design and performance prediction, can be greatly aided by accurate channel models that allow for the reproducibility of results, thus facilitating the fair and consistent comparison of different communication approaches. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive derivation of a multiple-scattering Monte Carlo UV channel model, addressing weaknesses in previous treatments. The resulting model can be used to study the contribution of different orders of scattering to the path loss and impulse response functions associated with general UV communication system geometries. Simulation results are provided that demonstrate the benefit of this approach. (c) 2011 Optical Society of America