Chapter 1 - Overview

Abstract

This introductory chapter provides the organization of the book. The main objective of this book is to give details on the wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology varying from the optical components to network architecture. WDM includes areas of expertise from electrical engineering to computer engineering and beyond. The book covers those components and technologies that could be practically used in the most WDM communication. It is divided into five parts: laser sources, optical modulators, photodetectors, fabrication technologies, and optical packaging technologies. Laser sources cover several kinds of laser sources being used in the optical networks from the edge to core networks. Optical modulators part covers two kinds of key external modulators frequently used in telecommunications: lithium niobate optical modulators and electro-absorption modulators. Photodetectors part covers two kinds of key photodetectors frequently used in optical communication: P-I-N photodiodes and avalanche photodiodes. Fabrication technologies part provides the advanced fabrication technology of the semiconductor photonics devices. Optical packaging technologies part covers the packaging technologies for optical components.