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Optical Fiber Communication 10EC72

UNIT - 8
OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS AND NETWORKS

Optical amplifiers, basic applications and types, semiconductor optical amplifiers, EDFA.
Optical Networks: Introduction, SONET / SDH, Optical Interfaces, SONET/SDH rings, High –
speed light – waveguides.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

TEXT BOOKS:

1. Optical Fiber Communication – Gerd Keiser, 4th Ed., MGH, 2008.

2. Optical Fiber Communications– – John M. Senior, Pearson Education. 3rd

Impression, 2007.

REFERENCE BOOK:

1. Fiber optic communication – Joseph C Palais: 4th Edition, Pearson Education.

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8.1 Optical Amplifier

 Most optical amplifiers amplify incident light through stimulated emission. An optical
amplifier is nothing but a laser without feedback. Optical gain is achieved when the
amplifier is pumped optically or electrically to achieve population inversion. Optical
amplification depends on-
- Frequency (or wavelength) of incident signal.
- Local beam intensity.
 Fig. 8.1.1 shows basic operation of optical amplifier.
 The external pump source energy is absorbed by the electrons in the active

medium. The electrons shifts to the higher energy level producing population inversion.
Photons of incoming signal triggers these excited electrons to lower level through a
stimulated emission process, producing amplified optical signal.

Amplifier Types

 The optical amplifiers can be classified into two main types.

1. Semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA).
2. Doped fiber amplifier (DFA).
 Both the types stimulated emission process.

8.2 Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA)

 SOA is a Laser diode without end mirrors and with antireflection coating coupled to both
fiber ends. Light coming in either fiber is amplified by a single pass through the laser
diode. SOA is an alternative to EDFA.
 Active medium consists of alloy semiconductor (P, Ga, In, As).
 SOA works in both low atte4nuation windows i.e. 1300nm and 1550nm.
 The 3dB bandwidth is about 70nm because of very broad gain spectrum.
 SOA consumes less power and has fewer components.
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 Two major types of SOA are –

a. Fabry - perot amplifier (FPA)
b. Travelling wave amplifier (TWA)
 SOA has rapid gain response 1 ps to 0.1 ns.

8.3Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA)

Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers:

 The active medium in an optical fiber amplifier consists of a nominally 10 to 30 m length

of optical fiber that has been tightly doped with a rare-earth element such as Erbium ( ),
Ytterbium ( ), Neodymium ( ) or Praseodymium ( ). The host fiber material can be
either standard silica, a fluoride-based glass or a multicomponent glass.
 The operating regions of these devices depends on the host material and the doping
elements. Flourozirconate glasses doped with or are used for operation in the
1300-nm window, since neither of these ions can amplify 1300 nm signals when
embedded in silica glass.
 The most popular material for long haul telecommunication application is a silica fiber
doped with Erbium, which is known as Erbium-doped fiber amplifier or EDFA.
 The operation of an EDFA by itself normally is limited to the 1530 to 1560 nm region.

Features of EDFA

 Active medium is created by erbium ( ), ytterbium ( ), neodymium ( ),

praseodymium( ).
 DFA can pump device at several different wavelength.
 Low coupling loss.
 Constant gain.

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Example 8.3.1 :An EDFA amplifier produces = 27 dBm for an in out level of 2 dBm at
1542 nm.

i. Find the amplifier gain.

ii. What is the minimum pump power required ? [Jan./Feb.-2007, 10 Marks]

Solution : i) Amplifier gain

… Ans

ii) Pump power Pp, in

Therefore minimum pump power should be 27 dBm. … Ans

8.4 Optical Networks

Introduction

 SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) is an optical transmission interface originally

proposed by Bellcore and Standardized by ANSI
 Important characteristics, similarities and differences between SONET and SDH:
1. SONET is a synchronous network.
2. SDH is also a synchronous network with optical interfaces.
3. SONET is a set of standard interfaces on an optical synchronous network of
elements that conform to these interfaces.
4. SONET interfaces defines all layers, from physical to the application layer.
5. SDH is a set of standard interfaces in a network of elements that conform to these
interfaces.

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6. Like SONET, SDH interfaces define all layers, from physical to the application
layer.
 The SONET standard addresses the following specific issues:
1. Establishes a standard multiplexing format using any number of 51.84Mbps
signals as building blocks.
2. Establishes an optical signal standard for interconnecting equipment from
different suppliers.
3. Establishes extensive operations, administration and maintenance capabilities as
part of the standard.
4. Defines a synchronous multiplexing format for carrying lower level digital
signals.

Broadband Networks

 Fig. 8.4.1 shows SONET/SDH network services. (Refer Fig. 8.4.1 on next page).
 Voice, video data, internet and data from LAN’S, MAN’S, and MAN’S will be
transported over a SONET or a SDH network.
 The SONET network is also able to transport asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
payloads. These systems, called broadband can manage a very large aggregate bandwidth
or traffic.

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SONET versus SDH

Some of the technical similarities between SONET and SDH are :

1. Bit rates and frame format organization.

2. Frame synchronization schemes.
3. Multiplexing and demultiplexing rules.
4. Error control.

SONET/SDH Benefits

Advantages are listed below :

1. Reduced cost is lower.

a. Operation cost is lower.
b. Same interface for all vendors
2. Integrated network elements :
a. It allows for multivendor internetworking.
b. It has enhanced network element management.
3. It offers network survivability features.
4. It is compatible with legacy and future networks.
5. Remote operation capabilities. It is remotely provisioned, tested, inventoried, customized
and reconfigured.

SONET and SDH Rates

 The SONET specification defines a hierarchy of standardized digital data rates. SONET
and SDH rates are defined in the range of 51.85 to 9953.28 Mbps and higher rates at 40
Gbps are also under study.
SONET SDH
Data rate Payload rate
Electrical Optical ITU-T
(Mbps) (Mbps)
STS-1 OC-1 51.84 50.112
STS-3 OC-3 STM-1 155.52 150.336
STS-9 OC-9 STM-3 466.56 451.008
STS-12 OC-12 STM-4 622.08 601.344
STS-18 OC-18 STM-6 933.12 902.016
STS-24 OC-24 STM-8 1244.16 1202.688

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STS-36 OC-36 STM-12 1866.24 1804.032

STS-48 OC-48 STM-116 2488.24 2405.376
STS-96 OC-96 STM-32 4876.64 4810.752
STS-192 OC-192 STM-64 9953.28 3621.504

1) Sts-1 = Synchronous transport signal – 1

2) OC = Optical carrier
3) STM = Synchronous transport module
4) ITU-T = International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication
Standardization Sector.
 When the SONET signal is in its electrical nature, it is known as synchronous transport
signal level N (STS-N). The SDH equivalent is called synchronous transport module
level N (STM-N).
 After its conversion into optical pulses, it is known as optical carrier level N (OC-N). In
SONET, N takes the value 1, 3, 12, 48 and 192 with corresponding bit rates at 51.48,
155.52, 622.08, 2488.32 and 9953.28 Mbps.

Why use SONET/SDH?

 Why glass fiber is better than copper wire? Following are the benefits of glass fiber.
1. Fiber yields thinner cable than copper.
2. Fiber an transmit without repeaters at longer distances as compare with copper.
3. Higher bandwidth per fiber.
4. Lower bit error rate.
5. Higher transmission reliability. Glass fiber is not as susceptible to radio frequency or
EMI as copper wire unless it is shielded and well grounded.

Optical Components

The optical components are

1. Optical transmitter
2. Receiver
3. Fiber medium
4. Optical amplifier

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1. Optical transmitter
 It is a transducer that converts electricalplses to optical pulses.
 The transmitter is characterized by
a) An optical power
b) A rise time
c) Central wavelength
d) Wavelength range
 Laser diodes have better controlled parameters, higher optical power, and short times and
therefore are better suited for multimega bit rates.
 Light emitting diodes (LED) transmit a wider band of wavelengths, are more
inexpensive and are better suited for lower bit rates than laser transmitters.
2. Receiver
 It is a transducer that converts optical pulses to electrical ones. Photodetectors can be
made with photoresist material or semiconductors. The response times of these
technologies are very different.
 For multimega bit rates, detectors must have high optical power sensitivity, very fast
response to a range of wavelengths that matches the range of transmitted wavelengths.
3. Fiber medium
 Ultrapure glass fiber is the medium used to guide light pulses. Light pulses are generated
by the transmitter and detected by the receiver.
 The motivation to use glass fiber instead of copper wire is that the ability to transport a
higher bit rate signal more reliably, with fewer errors and over a longer distance.
4. Optical amplifier
 An optical signal propagating in a fiber will be attenuated. The optical signal must be
amplified to compensate for losses in the fiber.
 Amplifying optical signals is a multi step process. Typically, the optical signal is
converted to an electronic signal, then it is amplified, and then it is converted back to
optical. This function is known as regeneration and it is relatively expensive.
 Another technique to amplify an optical signal is to use an all optical amplifier (OFA). It
consists of a fiber segment doped with erbium and pumped with light of wavelength at
980 or 1480 nm. This pumping process excites the erbium atoms in the fiber.
 When the optical signal with a wavelength in the range of 1530-1565 nm pass through
the fiber, it causes the excited erbium atoms to yield photons of the same wavelength
with the signal. This is known as stimulated emission and the result is more photons out
than the photons in and thus an amplified optical signal.
 Amplifiers are of three types :
a) Single wavelength digital amplifiers.

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b) Multiwavelength digital amplifiers.

c) Amplifiers for analog applications such as CATV.

SONET/SDH Network

 The SONET/SDH network consists of nodes or network elements (NE) that are
interconnected with fiber cable over which user and network information is transmitted.
Fig. 8.4.2 shows SONET network

 SONET NEs may receive signals from a variety of facilities such as DS1, DS3, ATM,
Internet and LAN/MAN/WAN. They also may receive signals from a variety of network
topology.
 SONET NEs must have a proper interface to convert the incoming data format into the
SONET format.

Network Topologies

 Network falls into three topologies :

1. Ring
2. Mesh
3. Tree
1) Ring topology
1. It consists of NEs interconnected with a dual fiber, the primary and secondary, to
form a ring.
2. When one of these two fibers breaks, the other fiber in the ring is used. This
mechanism provides transmission protection and ring restoration capabilities.
3. If both fiber break, then the network is reconfigured, forming a ring using both the
primary and secondary. Information flows in all the fibers but the broken ones.

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4. Ring topology offers fast path and is widely used in LANs.

5. Fig. 8.4.3 shows ring topology

2) Mesh topology
1) It consists of NEs fully interconnected.
2) When an interconnecting link breaks, the adjacent NE detects the breakage and
routes the traffic to another NE. this mechanism provides transmission protecton
and network restoration capabilities.
3) Fig. 8.4.4 shows mesh topology

4) The mesh topology is better applicable in densely populated.areas

3) Tree topology
1. it is a hierarchical distribution of NEs and is mostly used in LANs such as
Ethernet.
2. Fig. 8.4.5 shows tree topology.

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3. A source is connected to a distribution function as a hub, that routes the

packet to its destination node. A connection between source and destination is
established for the duration of the packet through hub.
4. This network is very efficient for asynchronous data transmission but not for
real time data and voice.

SONET Multiplexing

The SONET specification defines a hierarchy of standardized digital data rates. The basic
transmission rate defined in the SDH is 155.52 Mbps and is known as a synchronous transport
module level 1 signal (STM-1). Higher rates of STM-4 (622 Mbps) and STM-16 (2.4Gbps) are
also defined.
 In the SONET hierarchy the term synchronous transport signal(STS) or sometimes
optical signal(OC) is used to define the equivalent of an STM signal. An STM-1
signal is produced by multiplexing three such signals together and hence is equivalent
to an STS-3/OC-3 signal. As with the plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH), the
STM-1 signal is comprised of a repetitive set of frames which repeat with a period of
125 microsec. The information content of each frame can be used to carry multiple
1.5/2/6/34/45 or 140 Mbps streams. Each of these streams is carried in a different
container which also contains additional stuffing bits to allow for variations in actual
rate. To this is added some control information known as the path overhead which
allow such thing as the BER of the associated container to be monitored on an end-to-
end basis by network management.
 To provide the necessary flexibility for each higher order signal, in addition to the
overheads at the head of each lower level STM frame, a pointer is used to indicate the

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lower level STM frame’s position within the higher order frame. Multiplexing and
demultiplexing operation is performed by a device known as drop and insert or add
drop multiplexer (ADM).

SONET System Hierarchy

 SONET System hierarchy has four layers as mentioned below :

1. Photonic layer : this specifies the types of optical fibers, the minimum
required laser power, sensitivity of the receivers and dispersion characteristics
of lasers. This is the physical layer.
2. Section layer : This Layer generates SONET frames and convert the
electronic signals to photonic signals.
3. Line layer : This Layer synchronizes and multiplexes the data into SONET
frame.
4. Path layer : This layer performs end to end transport of data at the proper
rate.

Fig 8.4.7 shows the system hierarchy of SONET.

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 A section is the two basic physical building block and represents a single run of optical
cable between two optical fiber transmitter or receivers. For shorter run the cable may run
directly between two end points. For longer distances, repeaters are used. Repeater
amplify the signals.
 A line is a sequence of one or more sections such that the internal signal or channel
structure of the signal remains constant. Endpoints and intermediate switches or
multiplexers that may add or drop channels terminate a line.
 A path connects to end terminals, it corresponds to an end-to-end circuit. Data are
assembled at the beginning of a path and are not accessed.

SONET/SDH Frame

 SONET frame consists of a 810 octets and is transmitted once every 125 µs, for an
overall data of 51.84 Mbps. This frame is STS-1 building blocks. The frame can logically
be viewed as a matrix of 9 rows of 90 octets each, with transmission being one row at a
time, from left to right and top to bottom. Out of 90 columns (octet), the first three

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columns are allocated for transport overhead. (3 octets X 9 rows = 27 octets). Nine octets
used for section overhead (3 rows, 3 columns) and 18 octets for line overhead (3
columns, 6 row) total of 27 octets of transport overhead. Fig. 8.4.8 shows frame format.

 87 columns and 9 rows i.e. 783 octets are called the synchronous payload enveloper
(SPE). In SPE, 9 bytes (1 column, 9 row) is used for path overhead. SPE contains user
data and path overhead. Path overhead used for maintenance and diagnostics at each of
the circuit. Fig. 8.4.9 shows the arrangement of path overhead octets. This format is
general format for higher rate frames.

 SONET offers a standard drop-and-insert capability and it applies not just to 64 kbps
channels but to higher data rates as well. SONET makes use of a set of printers that locate
channels within a payload and the entire payload within a frame.
 Then information can be inserted, accessed and removed with a simple adjustment of
pointers. Pointer information is contained in the path overhead that refers to the multiplex
structures of the channels contained within the payload. A pointer in the line overhead
serves a similar function for the entire payload. The synchronous payload environment
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(SPE) of an STS-1 frame can float with respect to the frame. The actual payload (87
columns X 9 rows) can straddle two frames. Fig. 8.4.10 shows location of SPE in STS-1
frame. The H1 and H2 octets in the line overhead indicate the start if the payload.

 Because even the best atomic timing sources can differ by small amounts, SONET is
faced with coping with the resulting timing differences. Each node must recalculate the
pointer to alert the next receiving node of the exact location of the start of the payload.
 The payload is allowed to slip through an STS-1 frame, increasing or decreasing the
pointer value at intervals by one byte position. If the payload is higher than the local STS
frame, rate, the pointer is decreased by one octet position so that the next payload will
begin one octet sooner than the earlier payload.
 To prevent the loss of an octet on the payload that is thus squeezed, the H3 octet is used
to hold the extra octet for that one frame. If the payload rate lags behind the frame rate,
the insertion of the next payload is delayed by one octet.

Virtual Tributaries (VT)

 VTs are small containers that are used to transport used payloads. In SDH, these small
containers are called virtual containers.
 VTs come in certain predetermined capacities.
1. A VT with a 3 column capacity, or a total of 27 bytes, is known as VT1.5.
2. A VT with a 4 column capacity, or a total of 36 bytes, is known as VT2.
3. A VT with a 6 column capacity, or a total of 54 bytes, is known as VT6.
4. A VT with a 12 column capacity, or a total of 108 bytes, is known as VT12.

Fig. 8.4.11 shows a virtual tributaries.

 In SDH, a VT1.5called a TU-11, a VT2 is called a TU-12 and a VT6 is called a TU-2.
 The following table lists detail sof all VTs and payload rates.

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VT pasyload
VT Type Column/VT Bytes/VT Vts/Group VTs/SPE
rate (Mbps)
VT1.5 3 27 4 28 10728
VT2 4 36 3 21 2.304
VT3 6 54 2 14 30456
VT6 12 108 1 7 6.901

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overhead Definition

Section overhead : SONET

 The first three rows of the overhead space in an STS-1 frame, a total of 9bytes carry
synchronization and section overhead information.
 Fig. 8.4.12 shows STS-1 section overhead.

 The first two bytes of an STS-1 frame contain a fixed pattern, known as A1 and A2. This
pattern, OXF628 or in binary 1111 0110 0010 is used by the receiver to detect the
beginning of the frame and thus synchronize with it.
 The remaining 7 bytes in this overhead section are :
1. A1 and A2 contain a fixed framing pattern and are set at the hexadecimal value
OXF628 (1111 0110 0010 1000). A1 and A2 are not scrambled.
2. C1 is the STS-1 ID and is defined for each STS-1.
3. B1 is a byte used for error monitoring.
4. E1 is a 64 kbps voice communication channel for craft personnel.
5. F1 is used by the section.
 D1 to D3 constitute a 192 kbps communication channel between STEs. This channel is
used for alarms, maintenance control, monitoring, administration and other
communication needs.
 In an STS-N signal, this channel is defined for the first STS-1 only. The other N-1
channels are not used.

Line Overhead : SONET

 Rows 4-9 or a total of 45 bytes, carry the line overhead information and shown in fig.
8.4.13.

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 These bytes are defined as follows.

1. H1 and H2 define the offset between the pointer and first SPE byte.
2. H3 defines an action byte for frequency, justification purposes. It carries valid
payload if the justification is negative.
3. BIP-8 is used for locating errors.
4. K1 and K2 are used for automatic protection switching. In STS-N this is defined
for #1 only.
5. D4 and D12 constitute a 576 kbps communication channel between line terminal
equipment for alarms, maintenance, control, monitoring, administration and other
communication needs.
6. Z1 and Z2 are not defined. In STS-N this is defined for #3. Z2 is only defined as
line for end block error.
7. E2 is an express 64 kbps communications channel between LTE. In STS-N this is
defined for #1 only.

Section Overhead : SDH

 The first three rows of the overhead space are called the regenerator section overhead
(RSOH), the fourth row is called the administrative unit pointer, and the remaining five
rows are called the multiplex section overhead (MSOH).
 The first 2 bytes of the RSOH contain a fixed pattern, known as A1 and A2. This pattern ,
OXF628 or in binary 1111 0110 0010 1000 is used by the receiver to detect the beginning
of the frame.

Payload Pointers

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 Fig 8.4.14 shows the payload pointers. The two pointers, bytes H1 and H2, contain the
actual pointer value. Bytes H1 and H2 contain much more information than a value

 The first 4 most significant bits in H1 byte are known as the new data found (NDF) flag.
The NDF may be “normal =0110” or “set = 1001”.
 The next 2 bits are known as the S-bits and indicate the size of the virtual tributary in the
payload.
 The last 2 least significant bits of the H1 and the 8-bits of the H2 define two bit
alternating S-bit words.
 The I and D are used for incrementing or decrementing the offset.
 Although pointer bytes H1 and H2define an offset value, the third pointer, byte H3 does
not contain an actual pointer value.
 Fig. 8.4.15 shows pointer H3.

 Functions of the H1, H2 and H3 bytes

1. Identifies that a change has occurred in the pointer value (NDF = 1001) due to an
intermittent synchronization change in the node and where the new start is (I + D
bits).
2. Identifies that a change may have occurred in the pointer value (0110) due to a
frequency difference between node and incoming frequency.
3. The bits that contain the pointer values I and D, indicate whether negative or
positive frequency justification is necessary.

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Frequency Justification

 When the frame rate of the STE SPE is the same as the transport overhead, the alignment
of the SPE is the same as in the previous frame. This is known as no justification.
 When the frame rate of the STE SPE is less than the transport overhead (OH), the
alignment of the SPE is skipped back by a byte. This is known as positive justification.
 When the frame rate of the STE SPE is higher than the transport OH, the alignment of
the SPE is advanced by a byte. This is known as negative justification.
 Fig. 8.4.16 shows no frequency justification.

 Example : Consider that the H1, H2 and H3bytes are as in Fig. 8.4.16. In this case, the
H1 and H2 contain a NDF value of 0110, indicating that no change in the pointer has
occurred.

The I and D bits have not been inverted indicating no justification. The I, D value is set to
00 0010 1101 = 45. The H3 byte is 00000000.

 Fig. 8.4.17 shows the positive justification.

H1, H2 = 0110 0010 1000 0101

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H3 = 00000000

X = 1-bits inverted

Next frame (n+1) :

Pnew = P + 1

or H1, H2 = 0110 0000 0010 1110

H3 = 00000000

Scrambling

 When the complete frame has been assembled, the bytes in it are scrambled. Scrambling
is performed to assure the receiver that a density of 1’s is maintained in the signal.
 The A1, A2 and C1 bytes are not scrambled and the scrambling process begins with the
byte right after C1. This is shown in Fig.8.4.18. this applies to both SONET and SDH.

STS-N scrambler

 With respect to the scrambler the following rules apply :

1. The scrambling code is generated by the polynomial 1+ + .
2. The scrambler is frame synchronous at the line rate (STS-N) and it has a sequence
length of 127 bits.
3. The scrambler is set to 11111111 on the MSB of the byte following the Nth STS-
1 C4 byte.

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4. The framing bytes A1, A2 and the C1 from the first STS-1 through the Nth STS-1
are not scrambled.
5. The scrambler runs continuously throughout the complete STS-N frame.

Layered Overhead and Transport Functions

 The functional sequence that takes place, for example, from a DS1 signal to a SONET
signal, can be summarized as follows :
1. The incoming DS1 signal at the path layer is mapped onto a VT.
2. The VT is mapped onto the SPE and the SPE path overhead is also constructed.
3. The SPE is mapped onto the SONET signal and the line overhead information is
added.
4. The signal is mapped onto the STS-N signal and the section overhead information is
added. At this point the complete STS SONET signal is formed and the signal is
scrambled.
5. The signal passes through the electrical to optical transducer and the optical signal
with a NRZ optical coding is coupled into the optical fiber in which it travels at the
speed of light.
6. Fig. 8.4.19 shows the above process.

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Applications

1. High speed backbone networks.

2. Basic architecture for B-ISDN .
3. Basic architecture for ATM.
4. High speed optical network for data communication.

8.5 Distributed Networks

 Distributed networks are preferred when data is to be transmitted to a group of

subscribers. The transmission distance is relatively short (< 50 km).Examples of
distributed networks are – broadcast of video channels over cable TV, telephone and
FAX, commonly used topologies for distributed networks are –
1. Hub topology
2. Bus topology

1. Hub topology
 In hub topology channel distribution takes at hubs or central locations. Hub facilitates
the cross-connect switched channels in electrical domain. Fig. 8.5.1 shows hub topology

2. Linear bus topology

 Linear bus configuration is similar to Ethernet topology using co-axial cable. Fig.8.5.2
shows linear bus configuration.

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 A single fiber cable carries the multichannel optical signal throughout the area of service.
Distribution is done by using optical taps which divert a small fraction of optical power
to each situation.
 A problem with bus topology is that the signal loss increases exponentially with number
of taps for stations. This limits the number of stations or subscribers that can be served by
a single optical fiber bus.
 Use of optical amplifiers can boost the optical power of bus and therefore large number
of stations can be connected to linear bus as long as the effect of fiber dispersion is
negligible.

8.6 Local Area Networks (LAN)

 Many applications of fiber optic communication technology require networks in which a

large number of users within local campus are interconnected in such a way that any user
can access the network randomly to transit data to any other user. Such networks are
called Local area networks (LANs).
 Fiber optic cables are used in implementation of networks. Since the transmission
distance is relatively short (less than 10 km), fiber losses are not at much concern for
LAN applications. Use of fiber optic offers a large bandwidth.
 The commonly used topologies for LANs are –
1. Ring topology
2. Star topology

1. Ring topology

 In ring topology consecutive nodes are connected by point-to-point links to form a closed
ring. Fig.8.6.1 shows ring topology.

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 Each node can transmit and receive data by using a transmitter receiver pair. A token
(predefined bit sequence) is passed around the ring. Each node monitors the bit stream to
listen for its own address and to receive the data.
 The use of ring topology for fiber optic LANs is known as fiber distributed data interface
(FDDI). FDDI operates at 100 Mb/s with multimode fibers. It can provide backbone
services e.g. interconnection of lower speed LAN.

2. Star topology

In star topology, all nodes are connected through point-to-point link to central node called
a hub. Fig. 8.6.2 shows star topology.

 LANs in star topology can further be classified into active star networks and passive star
networks depending on whether the central hub is active or passive device.

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8.7 Measurements in OFC

Attenuation Measurements

 Signal attenuation is one of the most important properties of an optical fiber because it
mainly determines the maximum repeaterless separation between transmitter and
receiver. As the repeaters are expensive to fabricate, install and maintain, therefore fiber
attenuation has large influence on system cost and equally important in signal distortion.
 The distortion mechanism in a fiber cause optical signal pulses to border as they travel
along a fiber. When these pulses travel sufficiently far, they eventually overlap with
neighbouring pulses creating errors in receiver output. This signal distortion mechanism
limits the information carrying capacity of fiber.
 For determining attenuation in fibers three major techniques are used.
1. Cutback technique
2. Insertion loss method
3. OTDR trace.

Cutback technique

 Cutback technique is a destructive method of measuring attenuation. It requires access to

both ends of fiber as shown in Fig. 8.7.1.

 Firstly, the optical power is measured at the output (far end) of fiber. Then without
disturbing the input condition, the fiber is cut-off few meters from the source and output
power at near end is measured.
 Let PF and PN are the output powers at far end and near ends of fiber respectively. Then
attenuation in dB per kilometer is given by expression.

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where

L is separation length of two measurement poit (in km).

Dispersion measurement

 An optical signal gets distorted as it travels down the fiber due to three basic forms of
dispersion, that limits the information carrying capacity.
 There are different methods to measure the dispersions effects. Suc as : intermodal
dispersion in time domain, intermodal dispersion in frequency domain, chromatic
dispersion and polarization mode dispersion.

Time-domain Intermodal Dispersion Measurements

 Time-domain intermodal dispersion measurement involves injecting a narrow pulse of

optical energy into one end of an optical fiber and detect the broadened output-pulse at
the other end. Thest set up for this measurement is shown in the Fig. 8.7.2

Eye pattern

 Eye pattern method is a measuring techniques for assessing the data handling ability of
digital transmission system. The eye-pattern measurements are made in time domain and
allow the effects of waveform distortion to observe on oscilloscope. Fig. 8.7.3 shows test
setup for making eye diagram measurement.

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 To measure performance of system various word patterns must be provided Various

measurement from eye pattern can be done are –
i) Noise margin
ii) Timing jitter
iii) Rise time
iv) Non linearity of channel
 A simplified eye diagram showing key performance parameters is illustrated in fig. 8.7.4

 The display pattern formed can be understood by considering 8 combinations of 3-bit

long NRZ code. The 8 patterns are superimposed simultaneously forming an eye pattern.
Fig. 8.7.5 shows 8 possible 3-bit long NRZ combinations of pulses with moderate rise
and fall times.

 Optical Amplifier

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SONET/SDH

Recommended Questions

Optical Amplifier

1. Explain various performance parameters of optical coupler.

2. Describe the operation of optical amplifer.
3. Expalin following LAV topologies in optical networks –
a) Linear bus b) Ring topology c) Star topology
4. Give nearest neighbor budget for linear bus topology.
5. Explain comparative performance of star and linear bys network.
6. List the non-linear effects in fiber optic communications.

SONET/SDH

1. Review the similatiries and differences between SONET and SDH.

2. What is the OC-3 bit rate and what is STM-1 bit rate?
3. Why to use SONET/SDH?

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4. Explain the components of optical.

5. What is the difference between a regenerator and an optical amplifier?
6. Explain the different types of network topologies.
7. Review the STS-N bit rates.
8. What is a path?
9. What is a line?
10. What is a section?
11. What are virtual tributaries?
12. Explain the section overhead of SONET.
13. What is payload pointers?

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