Optical Communications

Catalog description

The future provision of Internet-based high-bandwidth applications has led to an explosion in demand for high-speed optical communication systems. This course aims to provide knowledge of the strategies and techniques involved in the design and implementation of optical communication technologies and how these optical links form networks. This course is designed to present the operation of modern optical devices driving the growth in optical communication systems and the broader picture of optical fiber and free space networks for future communication applications. The course covers: building blocks of optical communication systems such as transmitters, receivers, transmission fibers, and amplifiers; fundamental considerations in system design including signal to noise ratio, fiber nonlinearity, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion, modulation formats, etc.; and the latest developments in high data rate, high spectral efficiency optical communication systems. Many practical and useful examples are also included. Prerequisite(s): I ECE 202, A MAT 220 and 311.