Simulated Sensitivity Improvement of Optical Receiver in Fiber Optic Network

Abstract

With the increasing demand and growth in optical telecommunication networks, the sensitivity of an optical receiver become an important part of telecommunication transmission networks. The unlimited bandwidth of an optical fiber create a path for large volume of signals to flow rapidly in a fraction of a seconds. This increase in the volume of transmitted signals causes severe traffic congestion, making the receiver insensitive, prolong the signal processing time and identified bits wrongly. In this research, Optisystem 7 professional software using Erbium Doped Fiber (EDF), Avalanche photodiode (APD), Non-Return-to-Zero modulation format, optimization tool and low pass Bessel filter, CW laser, pump laser, a gain flattering filter, attenuator, Bit Error Rate Analyzer (BER) etc, was used to improve the sensitivity of the receiver. The procedure of the design was to first improve on the gain using Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA), reduce loss and propagation time and increase the signal flow. Optisystem simulation was used to determine the optimum gain and the receiver sensitivity for several values of attenuation. This research investigated and analyzed the performance of the optical receiver at a wavelength of 1550nm, optic fiber of length 100km. Simulations were made and the Bit Error Rate analyzer values taken. Several values of Q-Factor and Bit Error Rate were tabulated and the corresponding graphs plotted. There was an improvement in the gain, quality factor, the quality of signal with a low noise value and the extended transmission or propagation time was reduced. The result of the design showed an improvement in the sensitivity of the receiver.