Which is the most power-efficient modulation format in optical links?

Opt Express. 2009 Jun 22;17(13):10814-9. doi: 10.1364/oe.17.010814.

Abstract

By exploiting the electromagnetic wave's four-dimensional signal space, we find that for the additive white Gaussian noise channel, the modulation format with best sensitivity to be an 8-level format with 1.76 dB asymptotic gain over BPSK, for uncoded optical transmission with coherent detection. Low-complexity modulators are presented for the format, as well as an interpretation in terms of quantum-limited sensitivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't