Single Mode Fibers

Single-mode fibers are the most advanced means of transmitting information, since they provide extremely low attenuation and very high bandwidths. At present, long distance communication by single-mode fibers is cheaper than by conventional copper cables, and in the future single-mode fibers will also be used in the subscriber loop. Since single-mode fibers have many applications, a variety of people need to understand this modern transmission medium. How ever, waveguiding in single-mode fibers is much more difficult to understand than waveguiding in copper lines. A single-mode fiber is a dielectric waveguide operated at optical wave lengths. Since 1961, I have been involved in experimental and theoretical re search on dielectric rod waveguides in the microwave region. From the experi ments, I learned much about the properties of a wave guided by a dielectric rod or a glass fiber, especially about its behavior at waveguide discontinuities like bends, gaps, or the waveguide end. Since 1972, my co-workers and I have also been investigating dielectric waveguides at optical frequencies, and since 1973 I have lectured on "Optical Communications". These activities have shown that there is a need for a tutorial introduction to the new technical field of single mode fibers. In this book the physical fundamentals are emphasized and the mathematics is limited to the absolutely necessary subjects. Besides presenting a physical explanation of waveguiding in single-mode fibers, it is also the aim of this book to give an overview of the knowledge accumulated in this field.

A basic, unified reference, rather than a description of the current experimental activity, presenting the scientific and engineering principles of single-mode optical fibers. It does, however, update discussions to reflect developments since the 1983 first edition, particularly those on international standards for fibres and measurement procedures, improvements in fibre attenuation control, fibre gyrometry, high-birefringence fibres, dispersion shifted and dispersion flattened fibres, connectors and splicing equipment, long distance terrestrial and undersea communication systems, and long distance transmissions systems.

Optical Networking Best Practices Handbook presents optical networking in a very comprehensive way for nonengineers needing to understand the fundamentals of fiber, high-capacity, high-speed equipment and networks, and upcoming carrier services. The book provides a practical understanding of fiber optics as a physical medium, sorting out single-mode versus multi-mode and the crucial concept of Dense Wave-Division Multiplexing.

A basic, unified reference, rather than a description of the current experimental activity, presenting the scientific and engineering principles of single-mode optical fibers. It does, however, update discussions to reflect developments since the 1983 first edition, particularly those on international standards for fibres and measurement procedures, improvements in fibre attenuation control, fibre gyrometry, high-birefringence fibres, dispersion shifted and dispersion flattened fibres, connectors and splicing equipment, long distance terrestrial and undersea communication systems, and long distance transmissions systems.

Optical Fiber Sensor Technology covers both the principles and applications of this technology. Drawing upon leading international experts for authoritative chapters reflecting the present state-of-the-art, the book contains essential tutorial material on the fundamentals of optics and optical fibres, reviews of the underlying technology and present and potential future applications. Extensively illustrated and carefully referenced, this volume will prove an invaluable source for researchers, engineers and advanced students from the fields of optoelectronics/optics and/or measurement and sensors.

SPIE Milestones are collections of seminal papers from the world literature covering important discoveries and developments in optics and photonics.

Textbook on the physical principles of optical fibers - for advanced undergraduates and graduates in physics or electrical engineering.