Optical Receiver Design

The principles of optical receiver design are reviewed, with an emphasis on the design of low-noise preamplifiers for high sensitivity. An improved derivation of the noise of bipolar transistor front ends is presented, along with noise equations for FET front ends. Preamplifiers using GaAs MESFETs, Si MOSFETs, Si JFETs, and Si bipolar transistors are compared, as well as long-wavelength receiver sensitivities using PINs, Ge APDs, and InGaAs APDs. Sensitivity degradations resulting from detector dark current and imperfect transmitter extinction ratio are discussed. Examples of a number of receiver front-end designs are described. This review will appear as Chapter 18 of Optical Fiber Telecommunications II, edited by S.E.Miller and I.P. Kaminow.