Optical Communication

Higher education teachers: , Batagelj Boštjan

Subject description

Prerequisits:

• Knowledge of subjects of general electrotechnics, mathematics and physics.

Content (Syllabus outline):

Comparison of optical fiber with coaxial and wire-line guides. Optical spectrum and properties of light as electromagnetic waves. Optical measurements for determining the length and attenuation of optical fiber (multimode, chromatic and polarization) dispersion. Design of optical communication link according to the available laser sources and photo detectors. Optical systems for wide area and local area networks.

Objectives and competences:

This course is designed to give an overview of basic concepts and components of optical networks. Basics of light signals transmission through optical fiber. Learning about light sources, receivers and other elements of optical communication link. Understanding the optical measurement procedures and the use of measurement results while planning communication link.

Intended learning outcomes:

• Knowledge and understanding: Understanding the advantages of optical fiber over the other line communications. Knowledge and understanding of the basic building blocks and principles of operation of optical communication systems.
• Use: The acquired knowledge will be useful for measurements on existing optical systems, as well as for the design of new optical communications links of different range.
• Reflection: For optical network operators and manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, it is essential to have qualified staff that is familiar with the basic principles of operation and characteristics of optical systems.
• Transferable skills: Synthetic problem solving, systems designing based on building blocks properties knowledge.

Learning and teaching methods:

Lectures, where students are introduced by the theoretical basics of optical communications, and laboratory courses, where students make practical experiments optical systems building blocks.

Study materials

Readings:

1. Keigo Iizuka. Elements of Photonics, Wiley (2002), ISBN 0-471-83938-8