Pulse normalisation in optical receiver shot-noise performance

The authors study the equivalence between two common normalisations used in the derivation of shot-noise in optical digital receivers. The role played by the bit rate in both approaches is discussed. They conclude that both a pproaches are formally equivalent, but one is conceptually preferrable. Fur thermore, no absolute result can be given on the influence of bit rate on t he receiver shot-noise performance. Any result is necessarily relative to t he normalisation used.