Sensitivity evaluation of baseband carrier-sense circuit for optical CSMA/CA packet networks

Abstract

The ability to detect the presence or absence of optical signals on specific channels is used to prevent packet collisions in networks implementing the optical carrier-sense multiple-access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol. This optical carrier-sense capability can be provided by a baseband carrier-sense circuit (BCSC), which directly detects the envelope of optical packets propagating in the network. A fraction of the optical power of packets passing through a node is tapped off for detection at the BCSC. It is therefore desirable to minimize the amount of optical power required at the circuit to perform reliable packet detection such that the additional insertion loss encountere..