Noise in laser recording

Noise in laser recording is treated from the viewpoint of measurement techniques, equipment design, film choice, and laser power. Signal-to-noise criterions that have been found useful in specifying wide-band magnetic recorders are presented to aid in establishing noise performance parameters for laser recorders. It is shown that such equipment can be built so that it will have an insignificant effect on total noise performance and that, although film granularity is the ultimate limit on noise, improvements in SNR are a function of increased laser power. The design of a 100-MHz analog laser signal recorder is used as the basis for discussion; however, the theory and techniques apply to all forms of laser recording.