Basic aspects of optical wave propagation

Electromagnetics plays a key role in modern radio and optical communication systems, including optical telecommunication systems and LIDAR [1-16]. Therefore, optical communication emphasizes the electromagnetic phenomena described mathematically by Maxwell’s unified theory [1-3,10-14], which we will consider in detail shortly. We should stress here that optical communications started to be investigated just after the invention of the laser in 1960. Atmospheric propagation of optical waves was investigated parallel to improvements in optical lasers and understanding of the problems of optical wave generation in both time and space domains. Thus, solving problems with weather, line-of-site (LOS) clearance, and beam broadening and bending in the real atmosphere contributed toward removal of free-space optical communication as a major aspect in wireless communication.