Elements of Optical Networking

This compact textbook introduces the most important elements of optical networks and uses them to solve practical problems with engineering solutions. The main topics are glass and polymer fibers, optical transmitters and receivers, modulation of laser light for high bit rates, elements of passive (couplers, distributors) and active (switches, optical amplifiers) networks and influence of nonlinearities in optical transmission. Examples describe advantages and limits of optical data transfer in networks. In addition to each topic, practical exercises and questions are given. Difficult mathematical descriptions and formulas are simulated using the program MathCad.The content:Photonics, wave-guide structures, glass and polymer fibers - Parameters and properties of optical fibers: attenuation and dispersion, transmission bandwidth - Optical transmitters, modulation of transmitters - Optical amplifiers - Optical receivers - Active and passive optical couplers and switches - Nonlinear processes in glass fibers, solitons - Active and passive optical networksTarget Groups:Students of Bachelor and Master courses at Universities of Applied SciencesStudents of Bachelor courses at Technical UniversitiesPractioners in TelecommunicationLife-long learnersAbout the author:Prof. Dr. Volkmar Brückner is a professor at Deutsche Telekom University of Telecommunication in Leipzig. He has more than 25 years of national and international expertise in the fields of laser optics, fiber technology and optoelectronics.