Course Title: Optical Communications
Type of Course: Optional, Theory
Offered to: EEE
Pre-requisite Course(s): None
Introduction to optical communication. Guided and unguided optical communication system
Light propagation through guided medium, Optical Fibers: SMF and MMF, SI fibers and GI
fibers. Fiber modes, mode theory for light propagation through fibers, single mode condition and
multimode condition.
Transmission impairments: fiber loss, chromatic dispersion in a fiber, polarization mode dispersion (PMD). Different types of fibers: DSF, DCF, Dispersion compensation schemes. Fiber cabling process, Fiber joints/connectors and couplers
Optical transmitter: LED and laser, Operating principles, Characteristics and driver circuits.
Optical receivers: PN, PIN and APD detectors, Noise at the receiver, SNR and BER calculation, Receiver sensitivity calculation. IM/DD and Coherent communication systems.
Nonlinear effects in optical fibers.
Optical amplifiers, Optical modulators
Multichannel optical systems: Optical FDM, OTDM and WDM. Optical Access Network, Optical link design and Free space optical communication.
This course is intended to introduce to students an overview of optical communication systems – guided and unguided
To provide students with the basic theory, design and operating principles of modern optical communication systems
The students should be familiar with different types of fibers, components, transmitters, receivers, different detection methods and receiver noise and they will be able to design a simple optical communication link
Fundamental understanding of concepts of Communication System and Electromagnetic courses
| CO No. | CO Statement | Corresponding PO(s)* | Domains and Taxonomy level(s)** | Delivery Method(s) and Activity(-ies) | Assessment Tool(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand the physics-based knowledge of lightwave propagation and apply it to solve the problems relevant to lightwave propagation in free space and optical fibers | PO(a) | C3 | Lectures, Discussions | Assignment, Class test, Final exam |
| 2 | Classify optical fibers and lightwave transmission systems and explain the impairments of light propagation in optical fibers and free space; analyse the operation of optical sources, detectors, amplifiers, modulators and demodulators etc. |
PO(a), PO(b) | C4 | Lectures, Discussions | Assignment, Class test, Final exam |
| 3 | Compare different optical communication systems and evaluate their performance | PO(b) | C4 | Lectures, Discussions | Assignment, Final exam |
| 4 | Design optical communication system considering different impairments and components | PO(c) | C5 | Lectures, Discussions | Assignment, Final exam |
Cognitive Domain Taxonomy Levels: C1 – Knowledge, C2 – Comprehension, C3 – Application, C4 – Analysis, C5 – Synthesis, C6 – Evaluation, Affective Domain Taxonomy Levels: A1: Receive; A2: Respond; A3: Value (demonstrate); A4: Organize; A5: Characterize; Psychomotor Domain Taxonomy Levels: P1: Perception; P2: Set; P3: Guided Response; P4: Mechanism; P5: Complex Overt Response; P6: Adaptation; P7: Organization
Program Outcomes (PO): PO(a) Engineering Knowledge, PO(b) Problem Analysis, PO(c) Design/development Solution, PO(d) Investigation,
PO(e) Modern tool usage, PO(f) The Engineer and Society, PO(g) Environment and sustainability, PO(h) Ethics, PO(i) Individual work and team work,
PO(j). Communication, PO(k) Project management and finance, PO(l) Life-long Learning
* For details of program outcome (PO) statements, please see the departmental website or course curriculum
| K1 | K2 | K3 | K4 | K5 | K6 | K7 | K8 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 | P7 | A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | A5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Lectures | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-3 | Introduction to Optical Fiber Communication |
| 2 | 4-6 | Guided and unguided light propagation, Light Propagation theory ‒ Ray optics theory and Mode theory. |
| 3-4 | 7-12 | Optical Fibers- SI Fibers, GI Fibers, Wave Propagation, Fiber Modes, Single mode Fiber, Multimode fiber, Fiber Birefringence, PMD |
| 5 | 13-15 | Transmission impairments ‒ Dispersion in Single Mode Fiber (SMF), Dispersion-induced limitation, Different types of fibers: DSF, NZDSF, DCF, Fiber Loss |
| 6 | 16-18 | Nonlinear Effects- SRS, SBS, SPM, XPM, and FWM |
| 7 | 19-21 | Optical Transmitters ‒ Light Emitting Diodes (LED), LASER Diodes (LD); their basic mechanisms, structures, characteristics, applications |
| 8-10 | 19-27 | Optical Receivers ‒ Photo-Detectors (PD): Detector responsivity, PN photodiode, PIN photo-detector, Avalanche photo-detector, Direct detection (IM/DD system) and coherent detection, Phase modulated system, Noise at the receiver, BER and Eye pattern |
| 11 | 31-33 | Optical Amplifiers ‒ Optoelectronic amplifier, Fiber amplifier: Erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and Raman amplifier, SOA |
| 12 | 34-36 | Optical Modulators: MZI, MZM, EAM, EOM |
| 13 | 37-39 | Multichannel Optical Systems ‒ Optical FDM, TDM and WDM |
| 14 | 40-42 | Power Budget/link design and Free space optical communication |
Class participation will be judged by in-class evaluation; attendance will be recorded in every class.
Continuous assessment will be done in the form of quizzes, assignments, in-class evaluations.
Final Examination: A comprehensive term final examination will be held at the end of the Term following the guideline of academic Council.
Class Participation 10%
Continuous Assessment 20%
Final Examination 70%
Total 100%
Fiber-Optic Communication Systems- Govind P. Agrawal, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Optical Fiber Communications- John M. Senior, 3rd Edition, PHI
Nonlinear Optics – Robert W. Boyd, 4th Edition, AP
Nonlinear Fiber Optics - Govind P. Agrawal, 5th Edition, AP
N.B. Besides going through relevant topics of the textbook, it is strongly advised that the students follow the class Lectures and discussions regularly for a thorough understanding of the topics.