Accession Number:

AD0835847

Title:

BACKGROUND EFFECTS ON OPTICAL DETECTOR SENSITIVITY,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ROME AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER GRIFFISS AFB NY

Personal Author(s):

• Ogrodnik, Robert F.

Report Date:

1968-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

41.0

Abstract:

This report examines the influence of shot noise and thermal noise on the sensitivity of optical detectors, with particular emphasis on background-induced shot noise. Four widely used optical detectors are included in the examination. They are the cross-field photomultiplier, the traveling-wave phototube, the semiconductor photodiode, and semiconductor photoconductor. The first three detectors are examined for 0.6 and 1.06 micron detection, and the fourth detector for 10.6 micron detection. The background power densities are calculated for three fields of view and for background radiation sources typically encountered in laser receiver applications for the three signal wavelengths of interest. The background-limited sensitivities of the four detectors are then determined for incoherent detection. The detector which provides the best sensitivity, for a given receiver application, is presented. The optical LO power levels necessary to reduce the influence of background power on detector sensitivity are determined for the four detectors for coherent detection. The corresponding quantum-limited sensitivities of the detectors are then listed for the three signal wavelengths of interest. Author

Descriptors:

• (*PHOTOTUBES
• PHOTOSENSITIVITY)
• (*PHOTODIODES
• PHOTOSENSITIVITY)
• (*INFRARED RECEIVERS
• PHOTOSENSITIVITY)
• BACKGROUND
• PHOTOMULTIPLIER TUBES
• PHOTOELECTRIC MATERIALS
• PHOTOCONDUCTIVITY
• NOISE(RADIO)
• OPTICAL RADAR
• LASERS

Subject Categories:

• Electrical and Electronic Equipment
• Optics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE