Abstract

The power signal-to-noise ratios for coherent and noncoherent optical detection are presented, with the expression for noncoherent detection being examined in detail. It is found that for the long range optical system to compete with its microwave counterpart it is necessary to optimize the optical system. The optical system may be optimized by using coherent detection, or noncoherent detection if the signal is the dominate noise factor. A design procedure is presented which, in principle, always allows one to obtain signal shot-noise limited operation with noncoherent detection if pulsed operation is used. The technique should make reasonable extremely long range, high data rate systems of relatively simple design.

© 1966 Optical Society of America

Optical Transmission Research

S. E. Miller and L. C. Tillotson
Appl. Opt. 5(10) 1538-1549 (1966)

Optimization of Preamplifiers for Detection of Short Pulses of Light with Photodiodes

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Optical Superheterodyne Receiver

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