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Unit of study_
ELEC5511: Optical Communication Systems
2025 unit information
Optical telecommunications has revolutionized the way we receive information and communicate with one another. This course will provide an understanding of the fundamental principles of optical fibre communication systems. It commences with a description of optical fibre propagation characteristics and transmission properties. We will then consider light sources and the fundamental principles of laser action in semiconductor and other lasers including quantum well lasers, tunable lasers and fibre lasers, and also the characteristics of optical transmitters based on semiconductor and electro-optic modulation techniques. The characteristics of optical amplifiers will also be discussed. On the receiver side, the principles of photodetection and optical receiver sensitivity will be presented. Other aspects such as fibre devices and multiple wavelength division multiplexing techniques will also be discussed. Finally, the complete optical fibre communication system will be studied to enable the design of data transmission optical systems, local area networks and multi-channel optical systems.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Engineering
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | School of Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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(ELEC3405 or ELEC9405) and (ELEC3505 or ELEC9505). Basic knowledge of communications, electronics and photonics |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. demonstrate the ability to undertake inquiry and knowledge development by first identifying the information needs and then effectively targeting searches of various media and formats such as the internet, library databases and electronic publications and synthesising the information most pertinent to the project at hand
- LO2. demonstrate the ability to write reports to communicate technical and often complex material using clear and concise language, as well as a logic string of thought, for the presentation of lab and project work
- LO3. demonstrate the ability to work in a team, assuming specific roles and responsibilities and drawing on the collective knowledge of the group to reach design solutions for optimised fibre transmission and optical transmitters
- LO4. demonstrate the ability to design a complete optical fibre communication system to enable the design of data transmission optical systems, local area networks and multi-channel optical systems
- LO5. demonstrate knowledge and proficiency of optical fibre propagation characteristics and transmission properties, using the principles developed throughout the course
- LO6. demonstrate knowledge and proficiency of light sources including the principles of laser action in semiconductors, the characteristics of optical transmitters based on semiconductor and external modulation techniques, and the characteristics of optical amplifiers
- LO7. demonstrate knowledge and proficiency of the principles of photodetection and optical receiver operation
- LO8. demonstrate knowledge and proficiency of fibre devices and multiple wavelength division multiplexing techniques and application to multichannel systems and networks
- LO9. utilise knowledge of the concepts in optical communications to apply the principles to the design of complete optical communication systems for data transmission and networks
- LO10. demonstrate effective use of computer-based tools of analysis, visualisation and simulation in engineering work and draw out meaningful and applicable information, aiding a specific engineering project.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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