Advanced Optical Fiber Communication Systems And Devices

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Optical fibre communication systems underpin modern communication systems, from the high capacity submarine cables that link continents to the interconnected mobile base stations used in wireless communications. The module will cover the theory and practice of modern optical fibre communication systems which currently achieves a capacity of 400 Gbit/s per wavelength. A systems approach is taken, focusing on the fundamental mathematical modelling of devices, subsystems and systems, to allow students to design and analyse future systems rather than merely reflecting latest technological developments. Nonetheless the students will be exposed to the very latest developments in the field, such as the means of transmitting 10 Pbit/s per fibre.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1.      Recall basic laws of optical physics to distinguish between the various modes of operation of Optical fibers.

2.      Identify the various causes for signal degradation and calculate the various types of losses occurring in transmission of energy.

3.      Categorize the types of sources of light on basis of physical construction and principle of operation and describe the conversion of light energy to electrical energy.

4.      Classify the optical detectors on basis of ability to efficiently detect and hence convert electrical energy into light energy.

5.      Identify the necessity for using couplers and connectors in energy transmission

6.      Explain the operation of optical receiver.

7.      Explain the use of analogue and digital links and describe the various criteria viz. power loss wavelength to be considered for point to point link in digital link system.

8.      Define the Wavelength Division Multiplexing. (WDM) principles and concepts

9.      Explain the operation of various devices like attenuators, tuners, and multiplexers etc.

10.  Discuss the basic applications of optical amplifiers like Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA).

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completing this course, students are expected to:

1.      Predict the pulse broadening happening due to the effect of dispersion of signal.

2.      Demonstrate the ability to describe the various phenomenon involved in the conversion of electrical energy into light energy.

3.      Outline the various practical problems faced while using couplers and connectors.

4.      Demonstrate the ability to apply the principles to advanced devices like MachZehnder Interferometers.

5.      Identify the various effects introducing noise in the system and evaluate the performance of digital receiver by calculating the probability of error.

6.      Explain the salient features of a modern optical fibre communication system employing digital coherent transceivers

7.      Discuss the limitations imposed by both noise and nonlinear properties of the optical fibre

8.      analyze performance metrics such as signal to noise ratio and bit error rate for an optical fibre communication link

9.      Understand the principles of coherent detection and the associated photonic subsystems

10.  demonstrate an understanding of the role of digital signal processing and forward error correction in modern communication systems

11.  design an optical fibre communication network given appropriate constraints