AN OPTICAL AMPLIFIER WITH CLOSED LOOP CONTROL FOR SCINTILLATION COMPENSATION IN FREE SPACE OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS

A method (900) includes receiving a first optical signal (320, 320a) at a first communication terminal (302, 302a) from a second communication terminal (320, 320b) through a free space optical link (322) and determining a receiving power (326) for the optical link based on the first optical signal. The method further includes adjusting an output amplification (324) at the first communication terminal based on the receiving power for the optical link. The output amplification is adjusted to provide a second optical signal (320, 320b) with a minimum transmission power (310) for maintaining the optical link. The method transmits the second optical signal from the first communication terminal to the second communication terminal through the optical link.