Lectures Notes
In Fiber optic communications
Code: P421
For Physics Students
by
Prof. Dr. \ Safwat William Zaki Mahmoud
Professor of Laser Physics
Contents of the course
• Basic Concepts on Optical Communication
• Optical Fibers
• Light Sources in Optical Communication system
• Optical Receiver (Detectors)
• Structure of Fiber Optic Communication System
• Multiplexing as a Tool to increase the Information
Capacity
Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM)
Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM)
• Direct Versus External Modulation
Basic Concepts on Optical Communication
Objectives
❑ Identify basic components of a fiber optic communication system
❑ Discuss the advantages of use of optical fibers in optical
communications
❑ Discuss the various applications of fibers in communications
❑ Describe the forms of signals used to carry information in
communication systems
INTRODUCTION
Communication in our daily life:
Traditional means:
- Telephone
- TV
- Radio
New means:
- Cable TV broadcasting Optical
- Computer networks Communication
- Cellular phones
- Continental telephone networks Systems
What we mean by Communications?
Communication means transfer of information from one point to another
Information is:
- document
- speech (or sound)
- image
- video
- data
Basic Concepts on Optical Communication
❑ Communication implies transfer of information (such as speech,
images, or data) from one point to another.
❑ Communication system is the system used to transfer this
information.
❑ Information modulates (carries on) an electromagnetic wave.
❑ The modulated wave could be a radio wave, microwave, or light wave,
which acts as a carrier.
❑ The carrier is transmitted to the receiver through a channel.
Amount of transmitted information increases with the
increase of the frequency of the carrier
Carrier frequencies of TV broadcast (50 – 900 MHz) are much
higher than those of AM radio broadcast (600 kHz – 20 MHz).
Components of Optic-Fiber Communication Systems
Optical fiber
transmitter receiver
Input output
signal signal
laser diode photodetector
Optical Fiber as Communication Channel
➢ Very long thin cylinders of silica
➢ Most fibers are made of silica with
loss of 0.2 dB/km
➢ The core and cladding are made of
highly pured solid glass
➢ The plastic coating protects fibers
from dust and scratches
Bit rate
❑ The bit rate B is the amount of information sent in a second .
B= 1/TB where TB is the bit slot)
❑ For TB= 1ns = 10-9s
B= 1/TB=1/10-9 =109 bit/s = 1Gb/s
❑ For TB= 1ps = 10-12s
B= 1/TB=1/10-12 =1012 bit/s = 1Tb/s
Basic Concepts on Optical Communication
❑ Their use implies a very large increase in the information capacity
compared to radio or microwaves.
Fiber-optic communication systems
systems that use lightwave to carry and transmit
information through optical fibers
In a cabled wire-telecommunication systems
❑ Voice signals are converted into electrical signals and are
transmitted as electrical currents through metallic (copper or
aluminum) wires to the local telephone exchange.
❑ one can at most send 48 simultaneous telephone conversations.
In fiber communications, it is possible today to have >
35,000 simultaneous telephone calls (~ transmission speed
of 2.5 Gbit/s).
Basic Concepts on Optical Communication
❑ Bandwidth of a communication system: difference between the
maximum and minimum frequencies that can be transmitted
through the system.
❑ The information capacity of the system is proportional to the
bandwidth
The current information revolution is grateful to the rapid progress
in the optical communication systems and their components:
➢ Transmitter (semiconductor laser)
➢ optical fibers
➢ Receiver (photodiode)
