S/N and error rate evaluation for an optical FSK-heterodyne detection system using semiconductor lasers

Receiving performance is evaluated for an optical FSK-heterodyne detection system in which semiconductor lasers are used as both an FSK transmitter and an independent local oscillator. Noise and error rate are measured under feedback stabilization of IF signal frequency and electrical equalization of semiconductor laser FM modulation frequency characteristics. The minimum received signal power of -44 dBm, which is about 2 dB better than that in IM direct detection, is achieved at a 10^-9error rate for a 200 Mbit/s signal. Excess errors for FSK signals result from frequency broadening of the laser spectrum. Both AM and FM quantum noises in the lasers are primary factors which determine system performance. Error rate characteristics in an optical FSK direct detection system, in which a Michelson interferometer is employed as an optical frequency discriminator, are compared with the above results.