Multi-use, low SWaP, ultra-sensitive photoreceiver arrays for ladar & remote sensing

A monolithic photoreceiver is described, which combines a vertical cavity optical amplifier (VCSEL) optical preamplifier (VCSOA) with an RTBT optical converter in a totally monolithic approach, thus enabling low SWaP and multi-use capabilities. The optical amplifier is capable of optical gain as high as 15 dB and noise figure as low as 4-6 dB. The optical converter has sensitivities of -32.5 dBm at 2.5 Gb/s and BER of 10/sup -9/, that are comparable to or better than APD and PIN diode photoreceivers. The monolithic photoreceiver, resulting from integrating the optical amplifier and optical converter, is capable of sensitivities approaching -47 dBm at a BER of 10/sup -9/ and a bit rate of 2.5 Gb/s. The monolithic photoreceiver can be applied to imaging ladar and remote sensing for maximum ranges as high as 220 km and resolution as low as 25 cm.