Optical Communication and Networking

This is a communication technology course generally offered to final-year undergraduate students in Electronics and Communication, or to graduate students pursuing an M.Tech degree in Communication Engineering. The course provides a comprehensive understanding of Optical Fiber Communication and Networking. It begins with the study of optical fibers, their characteristics, channel impairments, and mitigation techniques, followed by transmitters such as lasers and LEDs, and detectors such as PIN and APDs. The course also covers the fundamental components of optical networking.

Syllabus

Unit I: Optical Fiber

Overview of optical fiber communication, first to 5th generation optical communication system evolution. Current trends in optical communication system.

Basic laws, Optical fiber structure, ray theory and mode theory.

Single mode fiber, multimode fiber, V-number, Mode field diameter. Step index, graded index fiber.

Fiber material, photonic crystal fiber, polarization maintaining fiber

Unit II: Signal Degradation and Mitigation

Signal degradation in fiber: attenuation, distortion, dispersion and mitigation.

Unit III: Optical Sources and Detectors

Optical sources, LED characteristics, bandwidth

LASER and its characteristics

Photo detectors: PIN and avalanche photo detector

Unit IV: Optical Amplifiers and Link Design

Optical amplifiers, EDFA, semiconductor laser, Optical Link design

Unit V: Optical Networking