Power Efficient Communication for Low Signal to Noise Ratio Optical Links

Receiver sensitivity is a particularly important metric in optical communication links operating at low signal to noise ratios (SNRs), for example in deep-space communication, since it directly limits the maximum achievable reach and data rate. Pulse position modulation (PPM) with direct detection photon counting detectors are the most power efficient solution known, however, the sensitivity gain comes at the expense of reduced spectral efficiency. We show that quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) modulation with a phase-sensitive ultralow noise preamplified coherent receiver outperforms other well-known power efficient multi-dimensional coherent modulation formats, while simultaneously having higher spectral efficiency. It also results in better sensitivity than PPM for orders up to 64 with ideal direct detection using photon counting receivers. This is because of the bit error rate characteristics favoring the QPSK format when forward error correction with a large overhead is considered. © 2021 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement

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