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Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title
Module Code
School
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Liam Barry
Semester 2: Liam Barry
Autumn: Liam Barry
Module TeacherNo Teacher Assigned
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
None
Description

The purpose of this module is to introduce new PhD students working in the general optical communications field to all the components that are employed in building a photonics system. The module will introduce the operation of optical sources, detectors, amplifiers, modulators, and filters that are used in optical communications systems.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the underlying physics of the components that make an optical system and their roles and limitations
2. Describe the characteristics and performance of optical fibres and their impact on the overall system performance
3. Outline and be able to use the techniques and the technologies that make possible the modulation and demodulation processes in optical systems in order to achieve a required performance
4. Understand the nature of, and be able to use the performance metrics employed in system design, namely BER and S/N ratio
5. Analyse the limitations on system performance imposed by the nonlinear optical behaviour of fibres and be able to use the techniques for the mitigation of these effects
6. Describe the limitations of TDM systems in terms of components and performance, and the advantages of WDM systems and their limitations
7. Outline the concepts of fibre optic networks for TDM and WDM networks and the merits of an all optical fibre network
8. Simulate basic optical systems using design software



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture20Course Lectures
Laboratory5Laboratory to undertake systems simulations
Assignment Completion25Completion of written assignment
Group work15Completion of laboratory report
Independent Study60No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Topics
This module will focus on the main components that are used to build modern day optical communication systems. Specifically the course will focus on the following areas; - Laser diodes as optical transmitter - Electro-optical modulators including Mach-Zehnder and electro-absorption modulators - Optical amplifiers including fibre and semiconductor based optical amplifiers - Optical fibre transmission including the effects of dispersion and non-linearity - Optical receivers including pin and apd detectors - Coherent optical receivers - Optical filters including muxes and demuxes such as array waveguide gratings - Optical switches

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentThe students will be required to write a detailed paper on a specific research topic that will require knowledge of the course content in addition to additional reading of relevant material on their specific topic50%
Group laboratoryThe students will undertake a laboratory to develop simulations of different optical communication systems and submit a report on the laboratory and results50%
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category
Indicative Reading List

  • John Gowar: 1993, Optical communication systems, 2nd, Prentice Hall, London, 978-0136387275
  • edited by Ivan P. Kaminow, Thomas L. Koch: 1997, Optical fiber telecommunications III, Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 978-0123951700
  • Senior: 2008, Optical Fiber Communications: Principles and Practice (3rd Edition), 3, Prentice Hall, 978-013032681
  • Govind P. Agrawal: 2002, Fiber-optic communication systems, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 978-0471215714
Other Resources

None
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