Coherent optical receiver for 680 Mbit/s using phase diversity

A coherent optical receiver using a multiport optical coupler to provide phase diversity is described. By this means, only homodyne bandwidth is required in the signal processing, but with tolerances on the frequency tracking typical of heterodyne systems. Measured sensitivities with limited local-oscillator power are ?47.5 dBm at 320 Mbit/s and ?42 dBm at 680 Mbit/s. The results at the higher bit rate are strongly influenced by limited receiver module bandwidth.