Signal-to-Noise Ratio in Optical Communication

This lecture covers the application of Poisson processes to the signal-to-noise ratio in optical communication systems, focusing on the reception of optical signals by a PIN photodiode. It explains the emission power, photon energy, and the process of photon arrival, detailing the current generated by incident photons and dark current. The lecture also discusses the intensity of the Poisson process, the efficiency of the photodiode, and the calculation of the signal-to-noise ratio. Various terms such as dark current, thermal noise, and the decision threshold are explained in the context of optical transmission. The instructor, Patrick Thiran, provides insights into the relationship between the signal and noise components in optical communication.