@article{(Open Science Index):https://publications.waset.org/pdf/10002401,
	  title     = {Effect of Atmospheric Turbulence on Hybrid FSO/RF Link Availability under Qatar Harsh Climate},
	  author    = {Abir Touati and  Syed Jawad Hussain and  Farid Touati and  Ammar Bouallegue},
	  country	= {},
	  institution	= {},
	  abstract     = {Although there has been a growing interest in the
hybrid free-space optical link and radio frequency FSO/RF
communication system, the current literature is limited to results
obtained in moderate or cold environment. In this paper, using a soft
switching approach, we investigate the effect of weather
inhomogeneities on the strength of turbulence hence the channel
refractive index under Qatar harsh environment and their influence
on the hybrid FSO/RF availability. In this approach, either FSO/RF
or simultaneous or none of them can be active. Based on soft
switching approach and a finite state Markov Chain (FSMC) process,
we model the channel fading for the two links and derive a
mathematical expression for the outage probability of the hybrid
system. Then, we evaluate the behavior of the hybrid FSO/RF under
hazy and harsh weather. Results show that the FSO/RF soft switching
renders the system outage probability less than that of each link
individually. A soft switching algorithm is being implemented on
FPGAs using Raptor code interfaced to the two terminals of a
1Gbps/100 Mbps FSO/RF hybrid system, the first being implemented
in the region. Experimental results are compared to the above
simulation results.},
	    journal   = {International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering},
	  volume    = {9},
	  number    = {8},
	  year      = {2015},
	  pages     = {914 - 921},
	  ee        = {https://publications.waset.org/pdf/10002401},
	  url   	= {https://publications.waset.org/vol/104},
	  bibsource = {https://publications.waset.org/},
	  issn  	= {eISSN: 1307-6892},
	  publisher = {World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology},
	  index 	= {Open Science Index 104, 2015},
	}