A survey of jamming vulnerabilities in free space optical communication systems and mitigation techniques

Free-space optical (FSO) communication systems are a promising technology for future smart cities due to their cost-effective installation, high data throughput, extensive reach, and minimal latency. However, these systems are vulnerable to potential intrusions, particularly jamming. The limited wavelengths of FSO systems, typically around 1300 nm or 1550 nm, make them accessible to potential adversaries. The wide field-of-view (FoV) of FSO receivers is important for dealing with changing weather conditions. However, jammers can use this to their advantage, lowering security or stopping FSO links from working. Even in terrestrial applications, FSO transceivers, often situated at significant heights, are vulnerable to jamming. A jammer can transmit disruptive optical pulses to the FSO receiver, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate signals and jammed interference, posing a significant risk to communication integrity. Addressing jamming in FSO communication systems is crucial, especially in scenarios demanding secure and reliable communication, such as military applications. Understanding jamming and developing effective countermeasures is essential to ensuring the security and reliability of future communication networks as FSO technology continues to evolve.