What element is essential for ensuring data integrity in optical receivers?

The element that is essential for ensuring data integrity in optical receivers is the demodulator. The demodulator is a critical component in the process of converting the received optical signals back into electrical signals. During this conversion, the demodulator extracts the data information from the optical carrier signal while filtering out noise and other interference that may have occurred during transmission. This is vital for maintaining the accuracy and reliability of the data being received, thereby ensuring data integrity throughout the communication process.

In the context of fiber optics, while the optical interface plays a role in connecting the optical fiber to the receiver and the optical converter is involved in converting the optical signals into electrical signals, neither is as crucial for the actual integrity of the data as the demodulator. The electrical representation, while important for handling signals, does not directly manage the extraction and integrity validation of the data during the demodulation process. Therefore, the demodulator stands out as the key component in preserving data integrity in optical receivers.