Generalised Gaussian approach for the output process of a binary direct detection optical receiver

A generalised Gaussian approach for the output process of a binary direct detection optical receiver is developed. In this approach, every independent component of the output process is considered as a normal process with the first and second order moments equal to the respective moments of the marked and filtered Poisson process (MFPP) model. For the information signal component, each process associated with each state is normal. When the moment generating function of the photodiode gain is well described by the first three terms of the MacLaurin series expansion, it is shown that this approach represents the output process correctly. It is shown also that, in the sampling instant and for the worst case of symbol sequence, it leads to the signal to noise ratio approach, presented by Personick Bell Syst. Tech. J., vol.52, p.843 (1973) to compute the receiver sensitivity