Error-rate floor in optical ASK heterodyne systems caused by nonzero (semiconductor) laser linewidth

Using a simple model to account for the effects of non-negligible linewidths for the transmitter and local oscillator lasers in a heterodyne ASK system, we show that there is an error probability floor which is a function of the IF bandwidth and the relative decision threshold level. We describe the physical reason for this behaviour and present some calculated results for total error probability in terms of signal power, IF linewidth and bandwidth, and threshold setting. The implications of this ‘floor’ for practical receiver design are discussed.