As mentioned in Chapter 1, in a fiber optic link an optical source, such as semiconductor laser, converts an electrical signal to an optical signal. The optical signal, once coupled properly into an optical fiber, can travel as a guided wave for relatively long distances. At destination, the optical signal must be converted back from the optical domain to the electrical domain. This conversion is accomplished by using a photodetector, which is a light-sensitive device that converts the received photons into electrons.
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Notes
- 1.
The diode can also generate photocurrent when it is forward biased. This is called the photo-voltaic mode of operation, where light is converted to forward bias current. Photocells work in the photovoltaic mode. However, PIN detectors work in the reverse-biased region, also known as photo-conductive mode.
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Azadeh, M. (2009). PIN and APD Detectors. In: Fiber Optics Engineering. Optical Networks. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0304-4_6
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