ES 475 - Optical Communication and

Computing
Lecture 1

Dr. Asad Mahmood

Feb 23, 2023
Outline for today’s lecture
• Our Introductions
• Introduction to the course contents and modalities
• Introduction to Optical Communications
Introductions to ourselves
• Dr. Asad Mahmood
• Research Interests: Hyperspectral Imaging / Remote Sensing of Environment,
Signal Processing for Communications/ Wireless Communications
• Contact Information:
• Email: asad.mahmood@giki.edu.pk
• Office: G-9, FES faculty area
• Phone: 2285
• Consultation hours: During office hours, or by appointment for long consultation
• Your Introduction
• Relevant courses
 Introduction to the Course

• Optical communications, in form of fiber optic communications, free space optics

etc., is becoming an integral component of modern telecommunication
infrastructure.
• This course is designed to give an introductory understanding to the basics of
optical communications, in particular focusing on the fiber-optic
communications.
• An understanding of basic concepts and components of an optical
communication system including optical fibers, optical transmitter/source and
optical receiver/detector design and performance analysis etc. is given in the
start and mid of this course.
• Last part of the course aims to introduce to the students an understanding of link
budget design and optical network architecture at a high-level, and if time
permits introductory concepts of optical computing are briefly discussed at the
end of the course.
Course Contents
• Overview of fiber optic communication: Advantages of optical fiber communication key elements of optical
communications, optical spectral bands, units etc. (Chapter 1)
• Optical fiber waveguides: Nature of light, basic optical laws, optical fiber modes, key results of mode theory,
single and multi-mode fibers, fiber materials and fabrication, optical cables etc. (Chapter 2)
• Transmission characteristics of optical fibers: Signal Attenuation, Signal Dispersion, transmission
characteristics of single-mode fibers, international standards (Chapter 3)
• Optical sources: Basics of semiconductor physics, LEDs, LASER diodes, heterojunction structure (Chapter 4)
• Power launching and coupling: Source-to-fiber power launching, lensing schemes for coupling improvement,
fiber-to-fiber joints, Fiber splicing, optical fiber connectors (Chapter 5)
• Photodetectors: Physical principles of Photodiodes, Photodetector noise, Response time, Comparisons (Ch.
6)
• Optical receiver: Optical Receiver Operation, digital receiver performance, eye diagrams etc. (Chapter 7)
• Optical System design: System considerations, link power budget, rise time budget, Power penalties (Ch. 8)
• WDM concepts and components: overview of WDM operation principles, passive optical couplers,
Mach-Zehnder interferometer (Chapter 10)
• Optical networks: Basic Network concepts, Network topologies, SONET / SDH, Optical switching, WDM
network examples (Chapter 13)
Grading Policy
• Grading policy
• 5*Assignment Quizzes = 3*5% = 15%
• 5*Assignments = 2*5% = 10%
• 1*Complex Engineering Problem Assignment + Presentation = 9%
• 1*Ethics Assignment = 1%
• 1*Midterm exam = 25%
• 1*Final exam = 40%
CLOs and PLOs

Mapping of CLOs and PLOs

Sr. No. Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) PLOs Blooms
Taxonomy
CLO1  Solve problems related to optical principles used in optical PLO1 C2
fibers and characteristics of optical fibers    
CLO2  Analyze important components used in optical communication PLO1 C3
links e.g. optical sources, optical detectors etc.

CLO3  Design an optical communication component, link or network PLO3 C5

for a target set of desirables and constraints.
CLO4 Present effectively via an oral presentation the solution of PLO10 C4
the Complex Engineering Problem given in the course
CLO5 Demonstrate understanding of professional ethics and PLO8  
practice one or more as part of course.
CLOs and PLOs

CLO Assessment Mechanism

  CLO1 CLO2 CLO3 CLO4 CLO5

Quizzes 1-2 Quizzes 2-3 Quizzes
CEP 1 report 1 1
presentation/ presentation
report /report
section
Midterm Exam 2 Qs 1-2 Qs    
Final Exam  1-2 Qs 1-2 Qs
Books
Course Textbooks:
1. Gerd Keiser, ‘Optical Fiber Communications’, 4th/5th Edition, McGraw Hill

Reference Books:
2. Fiber Optic Communications, Lecture Notes, Prof. Walter Johnstone
3. G. P. Agarwal, ‘Fiber Optic Communication Systems’
4. Zanger and Zanger, ‘Fiber Optics – Communication and Other Applications’
5. Joseph C Palais, ‘Fiber Optic Communications’
6. Ramaswami, Sivarajan, ‘Optical Networks- A Practical Perspective’
Course Admin

• Preparing for the assignment quizzes is the best way to do well in this course, as they
will be interspersed throughout the semester and you will have ample amount to
prepare IF you plan nicely.
• All the assessments (Heavy-weightage quizzes, Midterm and Final Exam) will be from
the book topics covered in the lectures. Hence, make sure that you read the book topics
thoroughly and NOT rely ONLY on the slides, which are made only to assist in lecturing.
• Quiz/Assignment date will be announced well in advance and hence it will not be
changed. Make sure to plan your other commitments accordingly as you will be given
ample amount of time to prepare for each quiz
• Please do not make the class noisy. As 4th year students, it is expected of you to act
maturely in the classes. You are allowed to go out of the class quietly if there is
something urgent that needs your attention.
• 80% attendance is mandatory to be allowed to sit in the final examination as per
institute’s policy
Chapter 1- Overview of Fiber Optic
Communications