Researchers Attempt to Overcome Signal Interference in Free-Space Laser Communications Published Jan. 4, 2008 By Air Force Office of Scientific Research AFOSR Arlington, Va. -- An AFRL-funded research team from the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at New Mexico State University is working to reduce atmospheric interference in free-space laser communications. The team of scientists has demonstrated new ways to deal with the fading effects that occur when light interferes with itself as it propagates through atmospheric turbulence. The researchers have developed a wave optics simulation that is the first to accurately model a "partially coherent beam." Their work uses fiberoptics technology to produce partially coherent beams from laser light (which is initially both time- and space-coherent). The researchers proposed that light might better propagate through patches of atmospheric turbulence if reduced from its natural state of perfect coherence. Laser beams are potential tools for free-space communications, as well as for optical tracking, targeting, and other Air Force applications.