Fiber Optics: Prof. S.A. Babin
The lecture course is aimed to give fundamental knowledge in a rapidly growing part of modern
applied optics. Basics of light propagation in fiber waveguides open the course. Physics of
optical losses and group velocity dispersion in fibers is considered. Waveguiding modes
formation is explained, modes coupling is treated on the base of coupled modes equations.
Operation principles of fiber couplers and wavelength division multiplexers are explained.
Bragg gratings are indispensable elements of fiber-optical devices. It is told about grating types,
their modelling, fabrication and applications.
The following scope of material concerns the physics of fiber lasers – their principles and
spectroscopy. Analytical model for CW fiber lasers is expounded along with material on singlefrequency fiber lasers, tunable fiber lasers and pulsed fiber lasers. Then we tell about fiberBragg-grating sensors and distributed multi-point sensing based on them.
Nonlinear effects in optical fibers are another big topic of the course. The students study
the phenomenon of Kerr nonlinearity and soliton formation, modulation instability, stimulated
Brillouin and Raman scattering in fibers, physics of fiber amplifiers and fiber lasers based on
them, as well as frequency doubling in fiber lasers.
One of the most prominent applications of fiber optics deals with optical
communications. We consider basic elements of transmission lines, limitations in transmission
capacity, role of amplifiers and advantages of fiber-based amplifiers. Enhancement of
transmission capacity is considered in detail. We also present prognoses of fiber optics
development with new trends in optical communications and new forthcoming applications of
fiber lasers and sensors.