Performance implications of time delay and responsivity mismatch for balanced CPFSK lightwave receivers

The performance implications of time delay mismatch and photodiode responsivity mismatch are assessed for balanced CPFSK heterodyne receivers with differential detection. The receiver sensitivity is determined using a technique which combines computer simulation for characterizing the signal at the receiver output with a formula-based method of evaluating the bit error ratio. This approach permits consideration of laser phase noise, local oscillator intensity noise, nonlinear signal processing, and nonideal components. The numerical results quantify the penalty in receiver sensitivity due to mismatch, for different levels of local oscillator intensity noise. It is determined that time delay mismatch primarily affects the intensity noise contribution to the IF signal, while responsivity mismatch primarily affects the received signal component of the IF signal