The Black Swan is a best-selling book written by Nasim Taleb. Its main quality is to ensure that the reader sees the world in a different, much more insightful way, and it is therefore a must-read. Although focused on philosophy and economics, it can be analyzed from the perspective of any area or profession. In […]
The book Microwave Engineering by David M. Pozar is considered a fundamental reference in the field of microwave engineering. It is aimed primarily at advanced students of electrical engineering and telecommunications, as well as professionals in RF and microwave system design. Its purpose is to provide a solid understanding of the principles and applications of […]
Constant envelope modulations are of vital importance in radio communications due to limitations of electronic components. In practice it is necessary to analyze not only the symbols of a modulation, but also the transitions between them. For example, in a QPSK modulation, all symbols have constant envelope, but there are transitions between them where the […]
The envelope of a bandpass signal represents the signal, typically baseband, that served as the modulator of the carrier frequency. Although the power of the resulting signal may vary with time, its value can be generalized as a function of the envelope amplitude. The following text shows the evolution from the calculation of the power […]
Complex numbers extend the real numbers by adding an additional term called imaginary. This two-dimensionality makes it possible to simplify the understanding and calculations of many mathematical and physical questions. This article explains the basic fundamentals of complex numbers and their main applications for the particular case of electronics [1][2] and communications [3][4]. The table […]
Optical modulators use electrical signals to modify the physical characteristics of materials in such a way that the propagation conditions of light change. This article explains the most common optical modulators that are widely employed in optical communications. Firstly, Electro-Absorption Modulators are briefly describred. Secondly, electro-optic Mach-Zehnder Modulators (MZM) are introduced. Finally, the most relevant […]
Academic books in science and engineering tend to be expensive, both for students and professionals. When it comes to buying a copy of some of the most famous books in the field, prices are much higher than those of a conventional book. This phenomenon is especially relevant in emerging countries, where book prices in local […]
The term laser is used as a noun, but it was originally an acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”. A laser is a fundamental part in any optical transmitter, as it is the generator of the optical carrier. In optical communications, the spectral location of a carrier is often stated in wavelengths […]
This section provides a basic classification of optical networks. The overall network is a complicated system that ensures robust optical communications between exchange information nodes. This high-level system can be divided into typical subnetworks that meet specific geographical and functional requirements: the core network, Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), access networks and Local Area Networks (LAN). […]
This article shows the relevance of optical communications emphasizing how the introduction of optical devices marked an inflexion point in the performance of guided data links. The development of electro-optical technology allowed to increase simultaneously the distance and capactiy of communications systems. In practice, optical communications have enabled the ever-increasing worldwide data traffic. The table […]