Ever since the invention of the transistor, semiconductor-based microelec tronics has made a revolutionary impact on the information society, as evi dent from the widespread application of microprocessor-based technology in our modern society. The next wave of modern information technology, after transistors and microelectronics, is that oflasers and micro-optoelectronics. Optoelectronics, or optical electronics, based on lasers and related modern optical technology, has also become a very important field of science and technology in the past 20 years. Electronics or microelectronics deals with (micro)electronic devices and components for generation, transmission, and processing of electronic sig nals. In contrast, in optoelectronics we deal with optoelectronic devices and components for the generation, transmission, and processing of lightwave signals. It is the interaction of lightwaves (photons) with matter that shows the uniqueness of optoelectronic technology; optical absorption and scat tering, optical gain and amplification, material and waveguide dispersion, nonlinear optical effects, etc., are very much dependent on the material's intrinsic properties and the lightwave propagation effects.

Fibre Optics Is A Very Important Constituent Of Modern Information Technology. One Major Economic Benefit Offered By Fibre Optics Is Very High Information Transmission Rate At Low Cost Per Circuit-Km. The First Fibre Optic Telephone Link Went Public In Late 1970S. Ever Since, The Industrially Advanced Nations Around The World Have Been Striving To Deploy Fibre Optics In Almost Every Sector Of Communication Including Computer Networks And Data Links. Rarely, Since The Discovery Of Transistors, Have We Noticed Such A Fantastic Growth Rate Of A New Technology. As An Important Byproduct Of This Phenomenal Progress, A New Class Of Ultra-Sensitive Optical Sensors And Devices Based On Fibre Optics Has Emerged, Which Are Being Developed For Large Scale Use In Industrial And Biomedical Sectors. This Book Provides Semi-Tutorial Presentations Of The Fundamentals Of This Emerging Technology As Applied To Telecommunication And Sensor Development. Each Chapter, Contributed By Leading Researchers, Is Appended With A Large Number Of References To The Original Publications.The Book Is Broadly Divided Into Three Parts. The First Part Is Devoted To Propagation Effects In Optical Waveguides Including Polarization And Non-Linear Effects And Their Measurements. Fabrication And Cabling Technologies Of Optical Fibres Are Also Discussed In This Part. The Second Part Of The Book Deals With Optical Sources, Detectors, Integrated Optical Devices And System Designs Involved In Optical Communication Technology. The Last Part Of The Book Covers Topics Like Intensity Modulated And Interferometric Optical Fibre Sensors, In-Line Fibre Optic Components For Signal Processing And Multiplexing Of Optical Signals, And Application Of Fibre Optics In The Power Sector. The Extensive Coverage Should Prove Useful To Senior Undergraduate And Postgraduate Students, Researchers And Also To R & D Engineers Who Want A Tutorial Introduction To The Technologies Of Fibre Optic Telecommunication And Sensors.

Extracting key information from Academic Press's range of prestigious titles in optical communications, this reference gives the R&D optical fiber communications engineer a quick and easy-to-grasp understanding of the current state of the art in optical communications technology, together with some of the underlying theory, covering a broad of topics: optical waveguides, optical fibers, optical transmitters and receivers, fiber optic data communication, optical networks, and optical theory. With this reference, the engineer will be up-to-speed on the latest developments in no-time. - Provides an overview of current state-of-the-art in optical communications technology, enabling the reader to get up to speed with the latest technological developments and establish their value for product development - Brings together material from a number of authoritative sources, giving both breadth and depth of content and providing a single source of key knowledge and information which saves time in seeking information from scattered sources - Explores latest technologies and their implementation, allowing the engineer to compare and contrast approaches and solutions - Provides just enough introductory material for readers to grasp the underpinning physics, giving the engineer an accessible introduction to the underlying theory for a proper understanding

The demand for wireless access to network services is growing in virtually all communications and computing applications. Once accustomed to unteathered opera tion, users resent being tied to a desk or a fixed location, but will endure it when there is some substantial benefit, such as higher resolution or bandwidth. Recent technolog ical advances, however, such as the scaling of VLSI, the development of low-power circuit design techniques and architectures, increasing battery energy capacity, and advanced displays, are rapidly improving the capabilities of wireless devices. Many of the technological advances contributing to this revolution pertain to the wireless medium itself. There are two viable media: radio and optical. In radio, spread-spectrum techniques allow different users and services to coexist in the same bandwidth, and new microwave frequencies with plentiful bandwidth become viable as the speed of the supporting low-cost electronics increases. Radio has the advantage of being available ubiquitously indoors and outdoors, with the possibility of a seam less system infrastructure that allows users to move between the two. There are unan swered (but likely to be benign) biological effects of microwave radiation at higher power densities. Optical communications is enhanced by advances in photonic devices, such as semiconductor lasers and detectors. Optical is primarily an indoor technology - where it need not compete with sunlight - and offers advantages such as the immediate availability of a broad bandwidth without the need for regulatory approval.

This compilation of review articles by leading experts presents clearly the trend in future optoelectronic devices. It is clear that optoelectronic and photonic integration help to further improve high-speed system capabilities and increase the total systems and network capacities with WDM technology. The foundation of the integration technology is based on quantum well materials, and advanced epitaxial growth and device processing techniques. The integrated laser/ modulators, multi-wavelength laser arrays, and OEIC receivers have demonstrated the feasibility of this technology, but much work remains to be done to put such technology to practice.