Lecturer: Valerio Annovazzi Lodi   Guido Giuliani  

Course name: Optical communications
Course code: 504994
Degree course: Electronic Engineering
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/01
L'insegnamento è caratterizzante per: Electronic Engineering
University credits: ECTS 9
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

This course is a survey on optical communications, and provides information on the propagation medium (the fiber), lasers and detectors, passive components,optical amplification, and telecommunication systems.

Course programme

Optical Fiber, Emitters and Photodetectors, Passive components, Networks, Measurements

Optical Fibers
Single-mode and multi-mode fibers, specialty fibers. Geometrical and optical parameters. Modal theory of fibers. Attenuation. Dispersion.

Emitters and Photodetcters
Lasers and LEDs for optical communications. Laser/fiber coupling. Photodiodes for optical communications.

Passive components
Connectors and splices. Coupled-mode theory. Couplers; mirrors and resonators with couplers. Retarders and polarizer. Isolators and circulators. Modulators. Bragg gratings and filters. Arrayed waveguide devices.

Telecommunication systems
Point to point interconnections. Networks. Power budget. Electro-optic repeater. Optical amplifiers. Multi-wawelength transmission (WDM). Coherent detection.

Measurements

Measurements on fibers and on devices for optical communications: power, attenuation, return loss, geometrical parameters, dispersion and frequency response. OTDR, BER tester.

Course entry requirements

Basic knowledge of electromagnetic theory, optics and electronics from the courses of the First Level Degree in Electronics and Telecommunications; basic knowledge on lasers and photodetectors.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 64
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 4
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 6

Suggested reading materials

Gerd Keiser. Optical fiber Communications. McGraw Hill. For reference only.

Dispense di Comunicazioni ottiche dalle lezioni dei prof. Silvano Donati, Valerio Annovazzi Lodi, Guido Giuliani. CUSL (in Italian).

Copies of transparencies (on the course web site).

Testing and exams

Written examination, including numerical exercises and theory questions.