Understanding Optical Communications

This book presents a high level technical overview of the emerging technologies of fibre optical communications and optical networking. Written at the “technical conceptual” level it is intended as an introduction to the field for computer and data communication professionals. Discussion is descriptive and an effort has been made to keep the use of mathematics to a minimum. Although it is intended for professionals who already have some technical background, it is nevertheless relevant to anyone wishing to understand optical communication.

The primary topics of the book are:

. Transmission of light on a fibre

. Optical fibre, lasers, detectors, optical components

. Use of fibre optics in electronic communications networks

. Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)

. Optical communications networks