Fiber Optic Communication - A Beginners Guide

The developments in the field of optical fiber technology have spanned more than 40 years and are still continuing. The challenge lies in designing and developing fibers that can meet the challenges of the future, namely in terms of the magnitude of bandwidth carried as well as the number of wavelengths supported. As a result of continuous research and development efforts the development of fiber’s with a high level of glass purity performance approaching the theoretical limits has been achieved. The high purity levels combined with the major developments in the semiconductor technology have enabled fibers to transmit optical signals over large distances without amplification. There has been a parallel development in the field of fiber optic interfaces or connectors. Technology developments have resulted in the transition from the old ferrule core connectors to the recent short form factor – plus interfaces. The size, cost and the attenuation characteristics of the interfaces have reduced drastically while the density of optical interface ports have significantly increased. The book introduces the basic concepts of fiber optic that would be particularly useful for field technicians and engineering graduates.