Attaining the ideal detection limit using random multiplication
Renuka Jindal · Journal of Applied Physics · 1988
The effect of measurement time and the detection system bandwidth product in determining the signal-to-noise ratio is formulated. Results are derived for both cases when the detector is operated in the deterministic limit and the random limit. A comparison suggests that for level detection, when the measurement accuracy is limited by the finite time constant of the detection system, the random limit operation results in superior performance. For pulse detection, the random limit operation makes it possible to approach the ideal performance limit for large time bandwidth products. Also, the random scheme can attain the ideal performance limit even in the presence of gain fluctuations of the detector. The principle of random multiplication therefore provides an alternative approach to realizing ideal photodetectors.