Unpreamplified heterodyne detection of 10Gb/s NRZ-OOK with high receiver sensitivity

Abstract

We report -31 dBm receiver sensitivity for heterodyne detection of 10 Gb/s OOK without using an optical pre-amplifier. These are the highest receiver sensitivities for unpreamplified heterodyne 10 Gb/s detection. We also show the development of a coherent heterodyne balanced fiber optic receiver. The receiver incorporates a DFB or a solid state laser local oscillator, balanced PIN photodiodes, RF post amplifier, automatic frequency control (AFC), phase locked loop (PLL), polarization control, and precision power supplies in a small instrument case. We will show shot noise limited detection of amplitude modulated signals, cancellation of laser RIN noise, performance improvement using balanced detection at 2.5 and 10 Gb/s, and IF linewidth reduction.

Sensitivity Deterioration of Free-Space Optical Coherent/Non-Coherent OOK Modulation Receiver by Ambient Light Noise

“…In 1994, Thomas et al theorized that an intensity-modulated coherent receiver was insensitive to laser line width [ 11 ]. In 2006, Becker et al conducted a 10-Gbit/s OOK heterodyne communication experiment, achieving a sensitivity of −31 dBm [ 12 ]. In 2007, Wree et al studied the noise performance of 10-Gbit/s OOK with heterodyne reception [ 13 ].…”