Praise for the Second Edition "The book covers an extremely large range of topics and provides an excellent starting point . . . Readers searching for a wide-ranging and up-to-date view of fiber-optic communication systems would do well to purchase this book." ????????International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education The latest edition of a proven bestseller offers comprehensive, up-to-date coverage of fiber-optic communication systems with an emphasis on physical understanding and engineering aspects. The author covers both the systems and components aspects of fiber-optic communication systems with a focus on the physics and technology behind them. The Third Edition has been updated to reflect the current state of the art of lightwave transmission systems, with particular emphasis on the rapid development of the WDM technology and system design issues pertaining to current topics of research. These include new data on lightwave systems design, optical amplification and dispersion-management techniques, multichannel lightwave systems, soliton communication systems, and coherent lightwave systems. Some of the material has been rearranged to facilitate the design of courses in optical communications. Students and researchers alike will benefit from extensive pedagogical aids including:     * Extensive reference lists for each chapter     * Survey of recent research material for each topic     * Relevant end-of-chapter practice problems for teachers and students     * Solutions Manual available to teachers on request     * System design software on the enclosed CD-ROM Although intended primarily as a textbook for graduate students of fiber-optic communications, this book is also a valuable resource for undergraduate courses at the senior level and a valuable professional reference for researchers and engineers working in the fields of telecommunications and lightwave technology. Table of Contents Preface. 1. Introduction. 1.1 Historical Perspective. 1.2 Basic Concepts. 1.3 Optical Communication Systems. 1.4 Lightwave System Components. 2. Optical Fibers. 2.1 Geometrical-Optics Description. 2.2 Wave Propagation. 2.3 Dispersion in Single-Mode Fibers. 2.4 Dispersion-Induced Limitations. 2.5 Fiber Losses. 2.6 Nonlinear Optical Effects. 2.7 Fiber Manufacturing. 3. Optimal Transmitters. 3.1 Basic Concepts. 3.2 Light-Emitting Diodes. 3.3 Semiconductor Lasers. 3.4 Control of Longitudinal Models. 3.5 Laser Characteristics. 3.6 Transmitter Design. 4. Optical Receivers. 4.1 Basic Concepts. 4.2 Common Photodetectors. 4.3 Receiver Design. 4.4 Receiver Noise. 4.5 Receiver Sensitivity. 4.6 Sensitivity Degradation. 4.7 Receiver Performance. 5. Lightwave Systems. 5.1 System Architectures. 5.2 Design Guidelines. 5.3 Long-Haul Systems. 5.4 Sources of Power Penalty. 5.5 Computer-Aided Design. 6. Optical Amplifiers. 6.1 Basic Concepts. 6.2 Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers. 6.3 Raman Amplifiers. 6.4 Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers. 6.5 System Applications. 7. Dispersion Management. 7.1 Need for Dispersion Management. 7.2 Precompensation Schemes. 7.3 Postcompensation Techniques. 7.4 Dispersion-Compensating Fibers. 7.5 Optical Filters. 7.6 Fiber Bragg Gratings. 7.7 Optical Phase Conjugation. 7.8 Long-Haul Lightwave Systems. 7.9 High-Capacity Systems. 8 Multichannel Systems. 8.1 WDM Lightwave Systems. 8.2 WDM Components. 8.3 System Performance Issues. 8.4 Time-Division Multiplexing. 8.5 Subcarrier Multiplexing. 8.6 Code-Division Multiplexing. 9 Soliton Systems. 9.1 Fiber Solitons. 9.2 Soliton-Based Communications. 9.3 Loss-Managed Solitons. 9.4 Dispersion-Managed Solitons. 9.5 Impact of Amplifier Noise. 9.6 High-Speed Soliton Systems. 9.7 WDM Soliton Systems. 10 Coherent Lightwave Systems 10.1 Basic Concepts. 10.2 Modulation Formats. 10.3 Demodulation Schemes. 10.4 Bit-Error Rate. 10.5 Sensitivity Degradation. 10.6 System Performance. Appendix A: System of Units. Appendix B: Acronyms. Appendix C: General Formula for Pulse Broadening. Appendix D: Ultimate System Capacity. Appendix E: Software Package. Index.