Optical Communication Short Questions - Expanded Answer Sheet
a) How BER is related to the quality of the signal?
Bit Error Rate (BER) is an important measure of the quality of a digital communication system. It
quantifies how many bits received over a transmission channel are erroneous. A lower BER
indicates fewer errors and thus better signal quality. High BER implies noise, attenuation, or
distortion in the channel, which degrades the performance of the system.
b) What do you mean by wavelength converter? Explain FWM wavelength converter.
A wavelength converter is a device that shifts an optical signal from one wavelength to another to
allow flexibility in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems. Four-Wave Mixing (FWM)
wavelength converters work using the nonlinear properties of optical fibers. When three light signals
of different wavelengths mix inside the fiber, a new wavelength is generated, calculated as lambda4
= lambda1 + lambda2 - lambda3.
c) Calculate the quantum efficiency at 1300 nm if the change in power of 2mW produces a
current change of 6mA.
Quantum efficiency (eta) is calculated using the formula: eta = (I * h * c) / (q * P * lambda).
Substituting values: I = 6mA, P = 2mW, lambda = 1300nm, we get eta 0.57 or 57%. This means
57% of incident photons generate electron-hole pairs.
d) Define the receiver sensitivity.
Receiver sensitivity is defined as the minimum optical power level required at the input of a receiver
to maintain a specified Bit Error Rate (BER), usually around 10^-9. It indicates the lowest signal
level the receiver can detect reliably.
e) List the advantages of optical communication.
Optical communication offers several advantages: high bandwidth capacity, low transmission loss,
immunity to electromagnetic interference, improved data security, lightweight and small-size cables,
and suitability for long-distance and high-speed data transmission.
f) Suppose you use an LED whose energy gap equals 2.5 eV. What wavelength signal will it
radiate?
The wavelength of light emitted is given by lambda = 1240 / E, where E is in eV. For a 2.5 eV
energy gap, lambda = 1240 / 2.5 = 496 nm. The LED will emit blue-green visible light at this
wavelength.
g) Differentiate between Splices and Connectors.
Splices are permanent fiber joints created by fusion or mechanical means and are used for
long-term installations, with minimal signal loss (~0.1 dB). Connectors are temporary joints that
allow easy disconnection and reconnection for testing or maintenance, with slightly higher signal
loss (~0.20.5 dB).
h) Calculate chromatic dispersion in single mode fibre at 1550 nm with lambda = 1 nm and L
= 1 km.
Chromatic dispersion is calculated as: Dispersion = D * lambda * L. At 1550 nm, assume D = 17
ps/(nmkm). Then, Dispersion = 17 * 1 * 1 = 17 ps. This represents the temporal pulse broadening
due to different wavelengths traveling at different speeds.
i) Calculate the length of DCF with dispersion coefficient -46 ps/km if SMF is 40 km with 18.75
ps/km.
To compensate dispersion, total dispersion should be zero. So, L_DCF = -(D_SMF * L_SMF) /
D_DCF = -(18.75 * 40) / -46 16.3 km. This length of dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) will
neutralize the dispersion introduced by the single mode fiber (SMF).
j) What is Chromatic dispersion?
Chromatic dispersion is the phenomenon where different wavelengths of light travel at slightly
different speeds in an optical fiber. This causes a pulse to spread over time, resulting in signal
distortion and reduced data transmission quality, especially in long-distance or high-data-rate
systems.
