ECE 430
Optical Communication Systems
Required course: No
Concurrent with OPTI 430
Course Level
Units
Instructor(s)
Prerequisite(s)
Course Texts
Required textbook:
- Kumar, S. and Deen, M J.: Fiber Optic Communication Systems, Wiley 2014. Note: available as an e-book.
Several more advanced and comprehensive texts are recommended:
- Agrawal, G.: Fiber-Optic Communication Systems, 4th Ed., Wiley 2010
Schedule
Course Description
Specific Course Information:
2021-2022 Catalog Data: Physics of optical communication components and applications to communication systems. Topics include fiber attenuation and dispersion, laser modulation, photo detection and noise, receiver design, bit error rate calculations, and coherent communications.
Learning Outcomes
Specific Goals for the Course:
Outcomes of Instruction: By the end of this course the student will be able to:
- Describe and mathematically analyze optical components used in communication systems.
- Understand the principles of optical communication system design.
- Analytically evaluate the performance and technical merits of an optical communication system.
- Be conversant in the major application areas for optical communication systems.
- Design an optical communication system
- Identify and describe the major sources of noise and signal impairments in an optical communication system.
Course Topics
Brief list of topics to be covered:
Scheduled Topics/Activities (with references to main textbook chapters)
- Introduction and Background
- Optical Fibers (Chapters 1, 2 and 10)
Geometrical-Optics Description
Wave Propagation
Optical modes in Fiber
Fiber Losses
Dispersion
Pulse propagation
Nonlinear effect - Light sources (Chapter 3)
Laser basics
Light-Emitting Diodes
Semiconductor Lasers
Fiber laser
Laser Characterization - Optical modulation (Chapter 4)
Intensity Modulation – Direct Detection Systems
Coherent modulation – detection detection
Modulation formats: ASK, FSK, PSK, QAM
Bi-error rates and receiver sensitivity
Sensitivity degradation
System performance - Optical Receivers (Chapter 5)
Common Photodetectors
Receiver Design
Receiver Noise & Sensitivity
Receiver Performance - Optical Amplifiers (Chapter 6)
Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers
Raman Amplifiers
Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers - Performance analysis of optical links (Chapter 8)
Bit error rate
Q function
Rate limit
Note that material may be drawn from chapters not listed above and/or other readings and material provided in class.
Relationship to Student Outcomes
ECE 430 contributes directly to the following specific electrical and computer engineering student outcomes of the ECE department:
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.