{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/106009"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/106009","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Optical communications with a Geiger mode APD array","abstract":"In this thesis, I evaluated the theoretical and practical performance of a Geiger mode avalanche photodiode (GM-APD, or Geiger mode APD) array for use in optical communications systems. I designed and implemented a test pattern generator, capable of producing waveforms with OOK and PPM modulations at a variety of symbol rates and duty cycles. Using this pattern generator, I tested the receiver properties over a wide range of data rates and illumination levels, and was able to demonstrate the capability for error-free communications in both modulation formats, up to 78.8 Mbps at a sensitivity of 1.8 photons per bit for OOK, and 34.9 Mbps at 2 photons per bit for PPM.","abstract_html":"In this thesis, I evaluated the theoretical and practical performance of a Geiger mode avalanche photodiode (GM-APD, or Geiger mode APD) array for use in optical communications systems. I designed and implemented a test pattern generator, capable of producing waveforms with OOK and PPM modulations at a variety of symbol rates and duty cycles. Using this pattern generator, I tested the receiver properties over a wide range of data rates and illumination levels, and was able to demonstrate the capability for error-free communications in both modulation formats, up to 78.8 Mbps at a sensitivity of 1.8 photons per bit for OOK, and 34.9 Mbps at 2 photons per bit for PPM.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Horkley, Benjamin William"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Timothy M. Yarnall and Robert T. Morris."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016","date_published":"2016","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:53Z","subjects":["Electrical Engineering and Computer Science."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"rights_urls":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/106009","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Timothy M. Yarnall and Robert T. Morris."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.other","label":"Dc Contributor Other","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/106009"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2016.","This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.","Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.","Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-48)."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In this thesis, I evaluated the theoretical and practical performance of a Geiger mode avalanche photodiode (GM-APD, or Geiger mode APD) array for use in optical communications systems. I designed and implemented a test pattern generator, capable of producing waveforms with OOK and PPM modulations at a variety of symbol rates and duty cycles. Using this pattern generator, I tested the receiver properties over a wide range of data rates and illumination levels, and was able to demonstrate the capability for error-free communications in both modulation formats, up to 78.8 Mbps at a sensitivity of 1.8 photons per bit for OOK, and 34.9 Mbps at 2 photons per bit for PPM."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["M. Eng."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Optical communications with a Geiger mode APD array"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Timothy M. Yarnall and Robert T. Morris."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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Using this pattern generator, I tested the receiver properties over a wide range of data rates and illumination levels, and was able to demonstrate the capability for error-free communications in both modulation formats, up to 78.8 Mbps at a sensitivity of 1.8 photons per bit for OOK, and 34.9 Mbps at 2 photons per bit for PPM."],"dc:description.degree":["M. Eng."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/106009"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. 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