BER analysis on optical direct-detection FSK transmission systems using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer as a discriminator

This paper presents a BER analysis for two types of optical FSK transmission systems using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer as a discriminator. In one case the discriminator is assumed to be kept on the transmitter side and in the second case, on the receiver side. The analysis takes into account the linewidth of the source and other noises in the system. The discriminator disperses the input pulse, and an optimum filter required to produce a raised cosine output pulse spectrum is proposed. Such an optimum filter gives the minimum noise bandwidth without causing any ISI at the decision instant. The values of the equivalent noise-bandwidth factorsI₂ andI₃ of the filter vary between 0.563 to 0.822 and 0.086 to 0.193, respectively, when the interferometer delay time is varied from zero to bit time. BER curves are given for various conditions of the FSK systems. To avoid an error floor the linewidth of the source should be <0.01/.