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Frederic M. Davidson

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Education

        B.S.    1964    Cornell University
        Ph.D.   1969    University of Rochester

Research

Professor Davidson's research interests are in the fields of quantum electronics and optical communications. His work in optical communications has been both theoretical and experimental, and has dealt with both systems design issues and device technology. Most of the dissertations done under his supervision have contained substantial amounts of experimental work accompanied by a detailed theoretical analysis of the experimental results. His interests in quantum electronics have focussed on photorefractive materials and their device applications in optical signal processing contexts and as components in coherent optical communication systems.

His recent research has centered on free-space direct detection systems suitable for intersatellite optical communication links. This has resulted in the laboratory demonstration of a Q = 4 PPM system that used an AlGaAs semiconductor laser diode as the transmitter and a silicon avalanche photodiode photodetector in the receiver. The system was demonstrated to operate within 9dB of the quantum limit. His current research interests are focused on coherent optical communication systems for free-space intersatellite communication links which use photorefractive volume index of refraction gratings as beam combiners.

Selected Publications

F. Davidson, L. Boutsikaris, and M. Krainak. ``Coherent Optical Detection through Two-Wave Mixing in Photorefractive Material.'' Optics Letters, 13 (1988):506--508.

F. Davidson and Y.T. Koh. ``Interleaved Convolutional Coding for the Turbulent Atmospheric Optical Communication Channel.'' IEEE Trans. Communications, COM--36 (1988):993--1003.

F. Davidson and X. Sun. ``Gaussian Approximation versus Nearly Exact Performance Analysis of Optical Communication Systems with PPM Signaling and APD Receivers.'' IEEE Trans. Communications, COM--36 (1988):1185--1192.

M. Krainak and F. Davidson. ``Two-Wave Mixing Gain in BSO with Applied Alternating Electric Fields: Self-Diffraction and Optical Activity Effects.'' J. Optical Society of America B, 6 (1989):634--638.

F. Davidson and X. Sun. ``Slot Clock Recovery in Optical PPM Communication Systems with Avalanche Photodiode Photoreceptors.'' IEEE Trans. Communications, COM--37 (1989):1164--1172.

F.M. Davidson and L. Boutsikaris. ``Homodyne Detection Using Photorefractive Materials as Beamsplitters.'' Optical Engineering, 29 (1990):369--377.

F. Davidson and X. Sun. ``Word Timing Recovery in Direct Detection Optical PPM Communication Systems with Avalanche Photodiodes Using a Phase Lock Loop.'' IEEE Trans. Communications, COM--38 (1990):666--673.

F. Davidson and X. Sun. ``Receiver Operating Characteristics of a Laser Altimeter with an Avalanche Photodiode Photodetector.'' IEEE Trans. Aerospace and Electronic Systems, AES--28 (1992):268--274.