High speed fiber optics for communication

Ultra high speed fiber optics for communication tend to generate much attention due to nowadays internet usage is largely maximized (probably youtube takes much of the internet bandwidth). Companies such as Google is now plan to build very high speed fibre to home:
http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/

Silica glass single mode optical fiber used for communication at the moment using wavelength 1550 nm, the reason using this wavelength is because, the optical loss at this wavelength is relatively low (lowest fiber loss appeared at the valley between the Reighley scattering and IR absorption, see previous post about basic optics knowledge at: http://ioptic.blogspot.com/2011/08/online-learning-about-optics.html, fiber attenuation: http://ioptic.blogspot.com/2011/08/cut-back-method-for-testing-fibre-loss.html) also, EDFA could amplify light signal at this wavelength.

For fabricating even lower loss optical fibres, few ways could be done, (1) find new materials to replace the silica fibre. Chalcogenide glasses could be one of the candidates. Chalcogenide glasses are transparent at near-infrared and mid-infrared, in this case, chalcogenide fibres are not limited by the IR absorption curve. (2) Guide light using hollow core fibres. (3) Multiple cores in fibre, maybe. Etc…

University of Southampton and University of Essex in the UK now start up new project ‘Photonics Hyperhighway programme’:
http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/ViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/I01196X/1
http://www.orc.soton.ac.uk/PHH/


Figures ref:
http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/~schubert/Light-Emitting-Diodes-dot-org/chap22/chap22.htm
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/optical/15000r5_0/planning/guide/r50appc.html

ioptic: Top photonic research groups in UK universities

ioptic: Top photonic research groups in UK universities: " List in alpha-beta order: Aston University
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/eas/research/groups/photonics/ Cranfield University
http://www.cr..."

Top photonic research groups in UK universities

 List in alpha-beta order:

• Aston University

http://www1.aston.ac.uk/eas/research/groups/photonics/

• Cranfield University

http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe/departments/appliedmaths/engineeringphotonics/index.html

• Heriot Watt University

http://www.aop.hw.ac.uk/

• Imperial College

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research/photonics/

• St Andrews university

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~photocryst/

• UCL

http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/research/photonics

• University of Bangor

http://www.eng.bangor.ac.uk/research/optoelectronics.php

• University of Bath

http://www.bath.ac.uk/physics/groups/cppm/index.php

• University of Bristol

http://www.phy.bris.ac.uk/groups/cqp/

• University of Cambridge

http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/photonics/

• University of Exeter

http://newton.ex.ac.uk/research/emag/butterflies/

• University of Glasgow

http://www.physics.gla.ac.uk/Optics/people/

• University of Leeds

http://www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/imp/

• University of Nottingham

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/unimat/expertise/electronics/index.phtml

• University of Oxford

http://www-thz.physics.ox.ac.uk/

• University of Sheffield

http://www.epmm.group.shef.ac.uk/

• University of Southampton

http://www.orc.soton.ac.uk/

• University of Strathclyde

http://www.photonics.ac.uk/

• University of Surrey

http://www.ati.surrey.ac.uk/photonics

Useful simulation tools for planar waveguides and fibers:

FIMMWAVE  (Photon design) http://www.photond.com/products/fimmwave.htm
Optiwave http://www.optiwave.com/
Rsoft http://www.rsoftdesign.com/
Lumerical http://www.lumerical.com/
EMFlex http://www.wai.com/emflex.aspx
FreeBPM http://www.freebpm.com/
SMU Waveguide http://lyle.smu.edu/ee/smuphotonics/WAVEGUIDE/Main_Waveguide.htm
MIT Photonic-Bands (MIT) http://ab-initio.mit.edu/wiki/index.php/MIT_Photonic_Bands
Comsol http://www.comsol.com/industry/application/rf/po/
SMTP v2.0 (The source-model technique package) http://webee.technion.ac.il/leviatan/smtp/index.htm

Reference:
http://www.nusod.org/inst/software.html
ioptic.wordpress.com

Online learning about 'Optics'

Online study of basic optics

Fundamentals of Optical Fiber Technology and Systems

Short Description

Propagation of light in optical waveguides. Transmission characteristics of optical fibers: attenuation, modal, chromatic and polarization dispersion. Passive network components. Optical switching: technology and characteristics. Linear and nonlinear propagation effects. Optical sources and detectors. Principles of optical amplifiers and classification. Application of optical amplifiers. Wavelength division multiplexing technology. Nonlinear effects. Four wave mixing. Optical multiplexing and amplification as method of upgrading fiber optic networks. Coherent optical systems. Principles of coherent detection. Noise in coherent optical systems. Optical communication system design.

Lessons

1. Optical Propagation in Fiber
2. Attenuation of Optical Fibers
3. Waveguide Fibre Dispersion
4. Optical Amplifiers
5. Passive Components for Fibre Optic Communications
6. Active Components for Fibre Optic Communications
7. Wavelenght Division Multiplexing
8. Coherent Systems
9. Fiber system design
10. Literature
11. Important physical constants

Targed Grup

Students of electronics and telecommunications at IET PUT, ICT students at EU partner universities and training organisations (both BSc and MSc levels). Part-time students and continuous education students. Engineers and technicians from telecommunications industry participating in vocational courses offered by university and over the Internet.

Course Aims

To provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding of optical communication networks. To prepare students to design, to operate and maintain optical fiber systems and networks.

Prerequisits

Basics knowledge of optics, solid state physics and optoelectronics.

System Requirements

Internet access and browser, personal computer, no specialized software is necessary.

Author

Jan lamperski
Poznan University of Technology
Institute of Electronics & telecommunications
Poznan, Poland

Link

http://www.invocom.et.put.poznan.pl/~invocom/C/P1-9/swiatlowody_en/index.htm

Cut back method for testing fibre loss

Attenuation of an optical fibre is the loss of optical power as a result of absorption, scattering, bending, and other loss mechanisms as the light travels through the fibre.

The cutback method is a typical way used for measuring the total attenuation of an optical fibre. The cutback method involves comparing the optical power transmitted through a longer piece of fibre to the power transmitted through a shorter piece of the fibre.

The cutback method requires that a test fibre of known length ‘L’ be cut back to a shorter length. It needs access to both ends of the fibre. The cutback method begins by measuring the output power Py of the test fibre of known length ‘L’. Without disturbing the input conditions, the test fibre is cut back to a shorter length. The output power Px of the short test fiber is then measured and the fibre attenuation ‘A’ and the attenuation coefficient ‘a‘are calculated.



http://ioptic.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/cut-back-method-for-testing-fibre-loss/

Website for applying post doc position (international)

For post-docs:

http://www.academictransfer.nl/org/

http://www.postdocjobs.com/

http://www.sciencejobs.com

http://scijobs.org/

http://recruit.sciencemag.org/

http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/

http://www.ccom/areerpath.

http://www.jobsunlimited.com/

http://www.newscientistjobs.com/

http://www.smth.org/bbscon.php?board=AdvancedEdu&id=637

1. UK： http://jobs.ac.uk/
2. Gemany: http://www.mpg.de/english/institut/
3. AIP: http://www.aip.org/careersvc/jobs/

http://careers.physicstoday.org/search/

http://www.phdjobs.com/

http://www.post-docs.com/

http://www.aps.org/jobs/

http://tiptop.iop.org/

http://www.postdocjobs.com/

http://www.newscientistjobs.com/splash.action

http://aaas.sciencecareers.org/js.php?q=postdoctoral+positions

http://www.postdocjobs.com/jobs/

Chinese

http://www.csc.edu.cn/gb/

http://www.csc.edu.cn/gb/downloaddoc/2007/xmzn.htm

http://www.csc.edu.cn/gb/downloaddoc/2007/项目指南/澳大利亚悉尼大学博士生、博士后项目.doc

http://www.csc.edu.cn/gb/downloaddoc/2007/项目指南/中德DAAD精英奖学金项目.doc



(1) JobMart

http://www.kumc.edu/rrsnews/JobMart.htm#PostDoc

(2) NMRInfo

http://www.spincore.com/nmrinfo/

(click “Positions” on the left side Menu)

(3) SMI (The Society of Molecular Imaging). As the name can tell, it is related to molecular imaging, such as MRI, CT, PET, etc.

http://www.mi-careers.org/cgi-bin/view.cgi

(4) To browse the personal webpage of famous professors in your field, you may probably find a suitable position!



Ref:

http://www.sciencenet.cn/

http://pop.6park.com/chan2/messages/8657.html

http://ioptic.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/website-for-applying-post-doc-position-international/