Course Details

Course Information Package

Course Unit TitleMODERN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Course Unit CodeAEEE512
Course Unit Details
Number of ECTS credits allocated7
Learning Outcomes of the course unitBy the end of the course, the students should be able to:
  1. Review the concepts of Lightwave Technology and Optical line transmission. Identify the characteristics of guided electromagnetic waves in optical waveguides such as modes, material dispersion and attenuation.
  2. Define the fundamentals of optical waveguides and fibres as key components in optical communication. Apply the Geometrical-optics and the wave propagation approach to illustrate the basic parameters of the optical waveguide such as Refractive Index, Total Internal Reflection, Losses, Bandwidth.
  3. Introduce the concept of optical coupling in optical fibres and optical waveguides. Appraise the use integrated optical devices, such as, LED’s, optical sensors, optical polarisers, Couplers, Connectors, Repeaters in optical communication systems
  4. Familiarise with the Optical waveguide structures, TE/ TM modes, Cut-off frequency, Optical Bends.
  5. Judge the several techniques applied to optical communication systems for Dispersion management.
  6. Propose suitable techniques for modulation, signal routing and timing in typical optical communication systems.
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
PrerequisitesNONECo-requisitesAMAT223
Recommended optional program componentsNONE
Course Contents

Optical Fibre Communication Technology: Lightwave Technology, Optical line transmission, Fibre Optics Communication Systems.

The Optical Fibre: Single-mode/ Multimode Fibres, Step index/ Grade Index Fibres, Refractive Index, Snell’s Law, Total Internal Reflection, Modes and Materials, Dispersion, Losses, Bandwidth.

Coupling of Optical Fibres: Couplers, Connectors, Repeaters

The optical waveguide: The Optical waveguide structures, TE/ TM modes, Cut-off frequency, Optical Bends.

Dispersion Management: Dispersion Management Techniques, Dispersion flattened fibers.

Optical Communication Systems: Modulation, signal routing and timing in typical optical communication systems

Optical Sensors and Filters: Novel optical sensors and filters based on Bragg gratings and microstructured fibres

Recommended and/or required reading:
Textbooks
  • G.P. Agrawal, “Fiber-Optic Communication Systems”, Wiley-Interscience, 2002
References
  • N.S.Kapany, “Fibre Optics: Principles and Applications”, Academic Press,1997
  • R. A. Shotwell, “Introduction to Fiber Optics”, Prentice Hall, 1996
Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Students are taught the course through lectures (3 hours per week) in classrooms or lectures theatres, by means of traditional tools or using computer demonstration.

Auditory exercises, where examples regarding matter represented at the lectures, are solved and further, questions related to particular open-ended topic issues are compiled by the students and answered, during the lecture or assigned as homework.

Topic notes are compiled by students, during the lecture which serve to cover the main issues under consideration and can also be downloaded from the lecturer’s webpage. Students are also advised to use the subject’s textbook or reference books for further reading and practice in solving related exercises. Tutorial problems are also submitted as homework and these are solved during lectures or privately during lecturer’s office hours. Further literature search is encouraged by assigning students to identify a specific problem related to some issue, gather relevant scientific information about how others have addressed the problem and report this information in written or orally.

Students are assessed continuously and their knowledge is checked through tests with their assessment weight, date and time being set at the beginning of the semester via the course outline.

Students are prepared for final exam, by revision on the matter taught, problem solving and concept testing and are also trained to be able to deal with time constraints and revision timetable.

The final assessment of the students is formative and summative and is assured to comply with the subject’s expected learning outcomes and the quality of the course.

Assessment methods and criteria
Assignments10%
Tests30%
Final Exam60%
Language of instructionEnglish
Work placement(s)NO

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