Effect of fog on free-space optical links employing imaging receivers

We analyze free-space optical links employing imaging receivers in the presence of misalignment and atmospheric effects, such as haze, fog or rain. We present a detailed propagation model based on the radiative transfer equation. We also compare the relative importance of two mechanisms by which these effects degrade link performance: signal attenuation and image blooming. We show that image blooming dominates over attenuation, except under medium-to-heavy fog conditions.