Comparative Study of Millimeter-Wave-Over-Fiber Transmission Link with Different Photodiodes

In optical fiber communication, there is an expo- nential growth in data traffic demand. Hence, there is a need for advanced and efficient signal generation methods that offer a wider frequency range, higher tunability, and lower distortion. These optical fiber networks have long-distance capabilities and high data rates essential for intercontinental connections. This paper investigates the performance comparison of PIN photodetector and avalanche photodetector (APD) in optical fiber communication in terms of quality (Q) factor and eye patterns. The simulation model, utilizing microwave photonics (MWP) technology, implemented in OptiSystem software incorporates a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) for optical signal modulation and a Bessel filter for spectral shaping. Photodetectors are susceptible to noise, which may occur due to thermal noise, shot noise, or dark current, and generate signals with increased bit error rate (BER) and degraded signal quality. To overcome these problems, photodetectors with suitable materials and designs are utilized to improve responsivity and reduce noise levels. A maximum Q factor of 7.6019 and minimum bit error rate of 1.4075 × 10<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">−14</sup> at 10 Gbps over a 25 km single-mode optical fiber network is obtained in the mm-wave wavelength range. Theoretical analysis of the suggested system is also discussed.