A fully integrated high sensitivity PIN/FET optical receiver at 250 MBaud

A fully integrated GaAs optical receiver has been fabricated and operated at 250 MBaud, yielding a 10/sup -9/ BER sensitivity of -39.5 dBm at 0.845 mu m, equivalent to 1910 photons/bit. This result refutes the conventional wisdom of the superiority of hybrid over integrated optical receivers.