Optical communication systems

Fiber optic communication systems relay on superior electro-optical and optical components like fibers, lasers, modulators and detectors as well as elaborated signal processing at high data rates. By the introduction of coherent optical transmission concepts, digital processing of the detected signals became possible, as now amplitude and phase information are available. Research at the institute of microwaves and photonics in the area of optical communication covers besides the control of used components also the development of algorithms for optimization of coherent receivers especially in the presence of significant distortions due to the nonlinear transmission properties of optical fibers.