On the suitability of employing silicon photomultipliers for underwater wireless optical communication links

We investigate the use of Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for signal detection in underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) systems. We present an analytical photon counting model for the SiPM and clarify the related noise sources. Then, for a typical UWOC link, we compare the link performance for the two cases of using an SiPM and an avalanche photo-diode, and show to which extent the link span can be increased for the case of an SiPM-based receiver. The results we present testify the practical interest and the feasibility of employing SiPMs in the UWOC context.