ERROR PROBABILITY FOR OPTICAL FIBRE SYSTEMS IN THE PRESENCE OF MODAL NOISE.

Abstract

A Rayleigh probability distribution is used to model the received optical power fluctuation in a digital fiber-optic system affected by modal noise. New recursive formulas for the moments of the receiver output current are obtained that can be used in the Gaussian quadrative rule approximation of the error probability integral. Error rates have been calculated for a varying degree of modal noise disturbance. Results show that at least an additional 7. 5 dB of received optical power is needed when modal noise is present for an error rate of 10** minus **1**0.