Components and Techniques for High-Speed Optical Communications

The ever increasing usage of the Internet has made optical fibers the prime medium for handling the enormous amounts of data demanded by current and future user needs. To fully exploit the potential offered by optical fibers however, an array of technologies and techniques needs to be devised. This book discusses novel research into some of the techniques and components needed to enable the transmission of high speed signals through optical fiber. Optoelectronic components (electroabsorption modulators) are discussed along with their use as optical demultiplexers in high-speed optical systems. Distributed electronics are also reviewed and the possibility of their use to emulate the operating regime of mode locked lasers is presented for the first time. The book also provides a thorough background review of the research literature in the fields of high speed/capacity optical communication systems, characterization of optoelectronic components and electronic pulsating oscillators. Potential lines of research within the topics discussed are outlined in the final chapter.