High bit rate semiconductor laser lightwave transmission system

The performance analysis of a high bit rate externally modulated laser diode transmitter and avalanche photo detector receiver lightwave communication system is carried out. The effect of the intrinsic fluctuations of the laser diode on the system error probability is determined. The results show that the system performance degradation due to these fluctuations is strongly influenced by the average gain of the APD. The error probability of the system is not seriously affected by the fluctuations within its real practical limits especially when the APD gain is optimum up to 10 Gbit/s information rate.