Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art The Nature of Optical Communications Past , Present and

d Future Planning of Applications Economic Feasibility of Telecommunications Conclusions

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

The Nature of Optical Communications - Lightwave Systems - An Overview - The Use of Feedback to Control Noise - Fundamental Limitations of Optical Communication Systems

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Past , Present and Future Planning of Applications

- Western Union Development

- Optical Systems In Submarine Communications - Laser Communication Technology in New York Citys Transit System

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview (1) The expression Lightwave Communication was once used to describe the use optical signals as a carrier of information. (2) In telecommunications, glass fibers that carried lightwave communications were once called lightguides. (3) Lightwave systems possessed several unique characteristics and consequently offered new and unique opportunities. (4) These new and unique opportunities are the result of two factors : (a) the development of low-loss, low-dispersion glass fibers and (b) the work on semiconductor optical sources such as lasers and highradiance light emitting diodes (LEDs). (5) From a telecommunications viewpoint most optical system characteristics have positive consequences.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview
System Characteristics of Glass Fibers and their Consequences
Glass Fiber System Characteristic
Low Transmission attenuation Large Bandwidth Small Cable Size and Weight Immune to Electromagnetic Interference Non-Inductive

Glass Fiber System Consequences

Long Repeater Spacings , Reduced Outside Plant Expense High Data Rates , Large Message Capacity Space Efficiency , Ease of Handling Low Signal Noise, Can be Used in Noisy Environments No Crosstalk , No Hazard , Secure Communications

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview

Because of These Positive Consequences the Applications of Lightwave Technology Would Be Used Where Resulting Economic Benefits Exceeded
the Usual Conventional Approaches.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview
Momentus Events in Lightwave Communications 1958 : Invention of the Laser by Schawlow and Townes, also optical Communications is investigated at Standard Telecommunications Laboratories (STL). 1966 : Charles K. Kao, head of Optical Communications at STL discovers that fiber loss could be reduced below 20 decibels per kilometer for inter-office communications. 1972 : The Modified Chemical Vapor Disposition (MCVP) Process produced a glass-fiber material with a precisely controlled composition and high purity. !980 : AT&T asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve the Northeast Corridor System from Boston to Washington. The System was designed to carry three different wavelengths through graded-index fibers at 45 M bits / s. 1996: Fujitsu, Nippon Telephone & Telegraph Labs, and Bell Labs all reported sending one trillion bits per second through single optical fibers in separate experiments using different techniques.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview
The Value of Lightwave Systems Increased with Improved Designs. This was due to two factors : (1) As Manufacturing Grew to be More Efficient Experience was acquired and Production Volume Increased. (2) Material Costs of Copper Rose Steadily and as this Occurred Lighwave Systems were able to offer new services. Twenty-Five Years Ago Telecommunication Companies Started Investing More In Network Services. Their Results Were : (1) Filters with an Attenuation of 1 dB/m. This was fine for Medical Imaging But Too High for Communications. (2) Reductions in Fiber Transmission Loss and Improvements in Reliability. This Was Due to Improved Fabrication Methods and Shifts to Longer Wavelengths Where Fibers had Lower Attenuation. (3) In 1978 the Lowest Losses Reported was 0.47 dB/km at 1.2 m.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview

Progress in Reduction of Transmission Loss in Optical Fibers. The Cross Represents the Lowest Value Achieved.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview

Progress in Improvement of Reliability of AlGaAs Injection Lasers

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview
Strong Influences on the Economic Viability of Optical Fiber Systems (1) Transmission Properties of Optical Loss (2) Pulse Spreading Dispersion Mechanisms Note on Dispersion and Dispersion Mechanisms Signal Distortion in an Optical Waveguide is Caused by Several Dispersive Mechanisms : Waveguide Dispersion, Material Dispersion, and Profile Dispersion. (3) The Different Areas of Application with Depend on Properties and This Will Influence the Selection of Devices and Components (4) Absorption Losses Occur When There is a Loss of Signal Energy During Transmission.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Lightwave Systems - An Overview
Other Types and Causes of Optical Fiber Loss (1) Some Materials Can Acquire Losses During the Cable Manufacturing Process (2) Macroscopic Imperfections in the Bulk (3) Insufficient Cladding Thickness and Microbends in the Cable (4) Aging of the Fiber Cable Used in the Field For Each Fiber Optic Application the Feasibility was First Demonstrated in Various Field Experiments then in Trials.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Feedback to Control Noise
Noise is Inherent in Any Communication System, Likewise Noise is Inherent in an Optical Communication System. (1) Reducing this Noise is of Paramount Importance to Insure Reliable and Dependable Transmission at Required Energy Levels (2) Communication Systems Can Be Classified As Either One Way or Two Way , So a Two Way Communication System Can Be Used to Analyze How Feedback Controls Noise.

(3) The Physical Nature of the Feedback Channel is of No Consequence, Meaning the System Can Be Designed Using Other Materials Other Than Optical Fibers.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Feedback to Control Noise

Optical Communication System Using Feedback to Control Noise

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Feedback to Control Noise
A Mathematical Derivation by Leonid Kazovsky Can Prove That Noise Can Be Minimized in An Optical Communication System. From This Derivation the Following Can Be Derived : (a) Pe - The Required Error Probability (b) ET - The Average Transmitter Energy Per Bit and (c) EN - The Normalized Average Transmitter Energy Per Bit (1) The Dependence of Normalized Average Transmitter Energy Can Be Expressed As EN = ET / h , where h = Planks Constant and = the laser frequency. (2) Once EN = ET / h is Plotted on The Required Error Probability The Energy Saving of a System With Feedback versus Without Feedback Can Be Seen.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Feedback to Control Noise

Demonstrating the Dependence of Normalized Average Transmitter Energy Per Bit And The Energy Saving of Feedback Systems

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Feedback to Control Noise
Feedback Allows An Arbitrarily Low Error Probability To Be Obtained While Retaining a Finite Value of Transmitter Average Energy. (1) The Error Probability Increases Without the Use of Feedback and With the Use of Feedback More Energy is Saved.

(2) This Does Not Mean That An Arbitrarily Low Error Probability at a Constant Energy-to-Noise Ratio Per Bit Can Only Be Achieved With Feedback. (3) The Same Condition Can Be Accomplished Without Feedback By Other Means If The Bit Rate Is Less Than the Channel Capacity.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Fundamental Limitations
Receiver Sensitivity May Be Identified As The Minimum Optical Receiver Power Required To Achieve A Given Error Between The Original Message And The Estimate. Receiver Sensitivity Limitations Can Be Caused By : (a) Background Light (b) Dark Current (c) Post Detection Amplifier Noise (d) Transmitter Imperfections Depending On The System Requirements There Are Filtering And Reconstruction Methods That Can Improve Signal Quality and Provide Good Workarounds.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Fundamental Limitations

A Typical Optical Link Reduced To The Basic System Components ; (a) The Optical Transmitter, (b) The Optical Channel , (c) The Optical Receiver and (d) The Interconnections Between These Parts

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Fundamental Limitations
Other Types of Receiver Sensitivity Limitations : (1) Noise From An LED Output Imposes A Performance Limitation On An Optical Link When The Device Is Used As Transmitter. (2) Modulation Rates Are Another Limitation And Depend On The Device Used And Its Circuitry. (3) Also There is Degradation In The Optical Transmitter and Optical Fiber. Many Design Criteria Should Be Taken Into Account Before Designing An Optical Communication System. Among Them Include: (a) Selection Of An Operating Wavelength (b) Choice Of An Appropriate Transmitter (c) Receiver and Fiber (d) Cost vs Performance and (e) System Reliability

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Western Union Endeavors
Twenty Years Ago Western Union Announced Plans To Construct A Full-Scale Manufacturing Facility For Lightguide Cable And Related Components : (1) The Atlanta Facility Represented An Investment Of Over $10 Million (2) This Commitment Was A Complex Activity And Required Planning And Coordination. (3) New Departments Were Created And New Procedures And Methods Were Established. (4) The Organization Set-up To Implement This Technology Was The Bell Sales Lightwave Engineering Task Force. (5) The Goal Of This Task Force Was To Assist With The Formation of Lightwave Groups In All Regions Of The Country.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Optical Systems In Submarine Communications
The DOD Has Researched And Developed A Blue / Green Transmission Window In The Ocean And Devised A Strategic Laser Communication System Operating Between An Orbiting Satellite and A Submerged Submarine (1) Presently Very Low Frequency (VLF) Radio Imposes Operational Restrictions On Speed, Depth and Course. (2) The Ideal Communication System Would Be One That Permits The Submarine To Receive Messages At Any Depth Or Speed While Pursuing Any Course. (3) The Submarine Communication System Should Be Able To Deliver The Required Messages In The Assigned Timeframe. (4) To Accomplish These Aims A Laser Communication Approach Was Selected As An Alternative To Radio Frequency (Rf) Communication.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Optical Systems In Submarine Communications
Blue Light At 625 THz Penetrates Water Better Than Any Other Frequency In The Electromagnetic Spectrum. (1) At This Frequency The Concentration of Power Density Emitted On The Ocean Surface Will Enable Information To Be Detected By A Receiver At Any Depth. (2) To Reach The Submerged Receiver Light Travels Through A Transmission Channel Consisting Of The Atmosphere. (3) The Detector With A Large Area And Bandpass Filter Can Be Mounted On Top Of The Submarine. (4) The Depth Reached Can Be Increased If The Energy Per Pulse Is Increased And The Time Required To Cover The Entire Area Can Be Reduced If The Spot Size Is Increased. (5) Trade-offs And Compromises Would Be Necessary Before The Desired Performance Could Be Achieved.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Laser Communication Technology in New York Citys Transit System
Mass Transportation Planners, Electrical Engineers and Specialists In The Field Of Lasers And Optical Communications Have Proposed A Complete Modernization Plan. (1) This Plan Includes : (a) Creating New And Larger Subway Tunnels (b) Replacing The Present Fleet Of Subway Cars With A New Generation Of Smart Cars (c) Upgrading The Present Maintenance Techniques With Computers, Lasers And Optical Technology. (2) The Transit Authority Plans On Using A Vehicle Called The Geometry Train (a) Geometry Train Is Really A Mobile Computer And Laser Communications Laboratory. (b) On The Undercarriage Of The First Car Will Be Five Fixed

High Power Lasers.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Laser Communication Technology in New York Citys Transit System
(c) The Technicians Riding In the Geometry Train Will Analyze Data Sent To The Computers By The Five High Powered Lasers. The New Generation Of Smart Cars Will Have Computer Automated Navigation And Guidance Systems Resulting From A Laser Guided Device : (1) Operational Testing Of This Device Is Currently Underway For All Types Of Weather Conditions A New York City Subway Car Might Encounter. (2) When Completed The Transit Command Center Will Know The Location Of Each Subway Train In The System. (3) Distances Between Trains Will Be Better Monitored And Track

Space Will Not Be Wasted.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Economic Feasibility Cost Analysis of an Optical Fiber System
Critical To The Implementation Of Any Optical Communication Is The Economic Feasibility Involved : (1) Optical Fiber Transmission Systems To Be Developed Should Take Into Account Optical Fiber Costs, Marketability, and Demand Estimates. (2) The Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Public Utility Conducted A Study In The Late 1970s And Early 1980s Where The Process Of Introducing Optical Fiber Transmission Systems Was Considered Feasible. (3) Based On NTTs Plan To Completely Digitize Its Transmission Networks Coaxial Digital Systems Were Predicted To Have A Remarkable Growth After 1982. (4) Coaxial Cables Are Destined To Still Be Installed On Most Routes With A Mix Of Analog And Digital Transmission Systems.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Economic Feasibility Cost Effectiveness With Lightwave Communication Systems
Corporate Telecommunication Costs On The Average, Amount To One Percent Of Net Sales For A Large Corporation. (1) When Properly Applied Formulas Are Used ; Planning For Telecommunication Costs Can Yield Meaningful Operating Costs Reductions. (2) The Selection Criteria That A Company Uses To Devise A Communications Network Should Include Cost Savings, Better Control Of A Corporate Communications Budget, Transmission Of High-Speed Data Services And Teleconferencing-Transportation Trade-Offs. (3) For Martin Marietta, New Access Lines And Local Distribution Provided More Cost Effective Utilization Of The Corporate Network. This Planning Produced Inflationary Control Measures And Productivity Improvements.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Conclusions : Derived Benefits of Fiber and Optical Communication Systems
(1) Lightwave Systems Have An Enormous Information-Carrying Capability That Encourages A Wide Variety Of New Information Age Services Which Include : (a) Voice And Video Teleconferencing, (b) Electronics Messaging, (c) Shopping, (d) Banking and (e) Financial Services (2) The Medical And Dental Communities, The Manufacturing Industry, Science and The Military Have All Benefited Greatly From This Technology.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Conclusions : Derived Benefits of Fiber and Optical Communication Systems
(3) While Current Transmission Systems Handle A Variety Of Services, Lightwave Improves The Quality Of The Transmitted Information Or Material, Due To Fibers Immunity To Electrical Interference And Cross-Talk. (4) Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM), Where Many Wavelengths Of Laser Light Travel Simultaneous Down A Single Optical Fiber, Increased The Capacity Of Fiber By Four-fold. This Single Event Enabled The Internet To Spread Worldwide Dramatically.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Conclusions
(1) Since The Early 1970s The Research Departments Of Numerous Telecommunication Companies And Universities Have Contributed To The Advancement And Progress Of Optical Communications And Fiber Optics. (2) Today There Are Many And Sub-Divisions That Market Various High Performance Optical Components And Related Products. Their Customers Consist Of Industry, Government, Military, Academia, Other Countries And The Public. (3) The Impact Lightwave And Optical Technology Has Had Can Be Compared To That Which Electronics Has Had On The Manufacture Of Telecommunications Equipment And To That Which LSI Has Had On Electronics.

Optical Communications The Origins of the State of the Art

Conclusions
In The End It Will Be The Needs Of Leading Edge Businesses Which Will Create The Spawning Grounds For The More Advanced Uses Of Lightwave Technology And Optical Communications.

The Author Wishes To Acknowledge The Support Received From Members Of The ACB and ATB Test Organizations. They Represent The Test Community Working On Various Air Traffic Control (ATC) Programs In Test And Development At The Technical Center.