10 GHz bandwidth low-noise optical receiver using discrete commercial devices

Abstract

An ultra-broadband optical receiver using discrete, commercial devices is described. The design comprises a GaInAs pin detector followed by a three-stage, high-impedance amplifier employing HEMTs interconnected by impedancematching networks. All devices are mounted on a standard soft substrate. The measured 3dB bandwidth is nearly 10 GHz, and receiver noise does not exceed 13 pA/√(Hz).