There has been increasing discussion as to the lowest sensitivity possible in optical communications systems and in optical systems which involve the transmission of information from one place to another. This is a question which has become more crucial as lightwave systems have evolved to a stage for which more sophisticated developments can be considered. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to generate optical beams with characteristics significantly different from those of conventional lasers. This research deals with a study of the issues associated with such recent developments.
