Course syllabus for Fiber optical communication

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameFiberoptisk kommunikation
  • CodeMCC100
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPWPS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyElectrical Engineering, Engineering Physics
  • DepartmentMICROTECHNOLOGY AND NANOSCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 29117
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0108 Examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH
0 c7.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
  • 18 Jan 2025 pm J
  • 16 Apr 2025 pm J
  • 25 Aug 2025 pm J

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Electromagnetic field theory (fields, waveguides, etc.) is an important prerequisite. EEM021 High frequency electromagnetic waves or equivalent, will prepare the student well. Fundamental semiconductor physics (bands, pn-junctions) as well as advanced calculus (differential equations) is also important. Students within the MPWPS Master's Program will generally be very well prepared.

Aim

The aim of the course is to describe the components and concepts of fiber optical communication systems, which form the backbone of the Internet and are also becoming increasingly popular over short distances. By combining theoretical descriptions with system aspects, the student will be provided with both theoretical and practical understanding of such systems.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

After the course completion, the student is expected to be able to:

- Describe the fundamental properties and understand the limitations of fiber optical communication systems.
- Describe and analyze the most important system components and their limitations: transmitters, fibers, receivers, optical amplifiers.
- For optical transmitters: Understand different implementations, primarily using external modulators.
- For optical fibers: Quantify dispersion, attenuation, and to some extent nonlinearities as well as their impact on the optical signal.
- For optical receivers: Analyze receivers with and without optical pre-amplifier, know all relevant noise mechanisms, and evaluate the bit error rate.
- For optical amplifiers: Understand the fundamental properties of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers and Raman amplification and quantify the impact of using them.
- For systems: Evaluate different system concepts, such as wavelength-division multiplexing and time-division multiplexing

Content

After the introduction of some of the basic concepts the following topics will be discussed:
- Optical fibers: modes, loss, dispersion, nonlinearities
- Optical transmitters and receivers
- Multichannel systems
- Optical amplifiers: gain and noise properties
- Bit error rate and power penalties
- Dispersion management
- Advanced lightwave systems

Organisation

The course consists of:
- Two lectures per week
- One problem-oriented exercise per week
- Two compulsory laboratory exercises (four hours each)
- Four voluntary home assignments

Literature

Govind P. Agrawal, Fiber-Optic Communication Systems, 4th Ed., ISBN: 9780470505113, Wiley, 2010. Lecture notes, problem booklet, and laboratory notes will be handed out.
Note that a new (5th), updated and improved edition of the book was published in 2021 ISBN 9781119737360. We plan to use this book eventually but during a transition period of at a few years either edition is fine to use.

Examination including compulsory elements

Written exam.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.