A survey of channel models for underwater optical wireless communication

Abstract

This paper describes and assesses underwater channel models for optical wireless communication. Models considered are: inherent optical properties; vector radiative transfer theory with the small-angle analytical solution and numerical solutions of the vector radiative transfer equation (Monte Carlo, discrete ordinates and invariant imbedding). Variable composition and refractive index, in addition to background light, are highlighted as aspects of the channel which advanced models must represent effectively. Models are assessed against these aspects in terms of their ability to predict transmitted power and spatial and temporal distributions of light a specified distance from a transmitter. Monte Carlo numerical methods are found to be the most versatile but are compromised by long computational time and greater errors than other methods.