Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
7EEE 433OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATIONS3+0+03525.06.2026

 
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program ELECTRICAL-ELECTRONICS E.
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course 1. To provide fundamental principles of light propagation in optical fibers.
2. To teach the structure, types, and transmission characteristics of fibers.
3. To introduce optical sources, detectors, and passive components.
4. To enable design and performance analysis of optical communication systems.
Course Content Introduction to geometric optics; ray theory and electromagnetic wave theory of optical propagation in fibers. Optical fibers and their transmission characteristics. Fiber materials and their fabrication. Cables, connectors and couplers. Introduction to optical sources and detectors. Principles of optical communication systems, performance analysis and design.
Course Methods and Techniques In-class lecctures, homeworks.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Mehmet Demir mehmetdemir@gantep.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Optical Fiber Communications, Gerd Keiser, McGraw-Hill, 5th Edition, 2013, ISBN: 978-0073380711
Fiber-Optic Communication Systems, Govind P. Agrawal, Wiley, 4th Edition, 2010, ISBN: 978-0470505113
Course Notes Provided during lectures.

Course Category
Engineering %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 2 % 60
Final examination 1 % 40
Total
3
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Weekly lecture hours 14 3 42
Weekly practical lecture hours 14 5 70
Internet browsing, library work 14 1 14
Material design, application 2 3 6
Midterm and midterm exam preparation 1 3 3
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5 135

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Explain light propagation in fibers using geometric optics and waveguide theory.
2 Calculate transmission parameters (attenuation, dispersion, bandwidth) for different fiber types (single-mode, multi-mode).
3 Compare optical sources (LD, LED) and detectors (PIN, APD) with respect to operating principles and system parameters.
4 Analyze system performance by performing power budget and rise-time budget for an optical communication link.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction to optical communications, basic concepts, history, applications
2 Geometric optics: Ray theory, reflection, refraction, Snell’s law, total internal reflection, critical angle, numerical aperture
3 Waveguide theory: Electromagnetic wave equations, mode concept, V-number, single-mode vs. multi-mode classification
4 Transmission characteristics of optical fibers-1: Attenuation mechanisms in fibers: Scattering and absorption losses.
5 Transmission Characteristics of Optical Fibers-2:Dispersion mechanisms in fibers: Intermodal dispersion, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion (PMD).
6 Fiber Materials and Fabrication:Fiber materials (glass, plastic) and fabrication methods (MCVD, VAD, outside vapor deposition).
7 Optical cables, connectors (FC, SC, ST, LC) and splice losses, couplers, splitters, isolators
8 Optical sources: LED and laser diode (LD), operating principles, spectral characteristics, power-current characteristics, modulation
9 9. Optical detectors: PIN and APD diodes, quantum efficiency, rise time, noise types (shot, thermal, dark current)
10 Optical amplifiers (EDFA, Raman) and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)
11 System Design - I (Power Budget):Power budget calculations, receiver sensitivity, link losses, and optical power attenuation analysis.
12 System Design - II (Timing and Error):Rise time budget, eye diagram analysis, bit error rate (BER).
13 Performance analysis: Receiver sensitivity, dynamic range, link losses, system margin, example design problems
14 Modern optical communication systems: Coherent detection, long-haul terrestrial and submarine systems, optical networks (PON, GPON)

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11
All 5 5 5 5
C1 5 5 5 5
C2 5 5 5 5
C3 5 5 5 5
C4 5 5 5 5

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