LOW-NOISE OPTICAL-DETECTION OF A 1.1 GB-S OPTICAL-DATA STREAM

A low-noise, 1.1 Gb/s optical receiver has been built using a silicon a.p.d. and a GaAs f.e.t. The receiver sensitivity was evaluated using error-rate measurements, and for a bit error rate of 10−9, with no fibre, the measured optical sensitivity was −37-0 dBm. These results are used as a basis for the calculation of maximum repeater spacings for 1.1 Gb/s systems operating at 0.85 µm and 1.25 µm wavelengths. © 1979, The Institution of Electrical Engineers. All rights reserved.