Optical Receivers: Photodetectors

This lecture covers the design of optical receivers for different modulation formats, focusing on the purpose of traditional receivers and the additional functionalities in state-of-the-art coherent receivers. It explains the basics of photodetectors, including their spectral response, conversion of light into electrical signals, and the importance of sensitivity, response speed, and low noise in optical communication systems. The lecture also delves into photodiode basics, quantum efficiency, absorption coefficient, and different types of photodiodes such as p-n and p-i-n photodiodes.