Fiber-optical transmission between 0.8 and 1.4 µm

The present state of the art and expected development in discrete components for fiber-optic transmission systems are reviewed. Predicted performance of fiber systems in the 0.85, 1.06, and 1.27 µm regions is presented, and the advantages of longer wavelength operation quantified. It is concluded that operation near 1.27 µm is particularly attractive for a) moderate data rate systems employing LED's and multimode fibers whose chromatic dispersion and attenuation are greatly reduced compared with 0.85 and 1.06 µm, and b) high data rate systems employing lasers and monomode fibers. In systems employing lasers and graded index multimode fibers, the advantage of 1.27 µm versus 1.06 µm operation is not as pronounced, although transmission distances at both of these longer wavelengths are significantly increased from those at 0.85 µm.