WDM Concepts &

Components
WDM Concept
● Variation of FDM
● Enable optical signals to be transmitted by a single fiber.
● Characteristic of WDM is that the discrete wavelengths form an orthogonal set of
carriers that can be separated, routed, and switched without interfering
● Technology that increases bandwidth by allowing different data streams at
different frequencies to be sent simultaneously over a single optical fiber
network. In this way, WDM maximizes the usefulness of fiber and helps
optimize network investments
 Overview
Capacity upgrade: WDM can increase capacity of Fiber Optic Network dramatically
Transparency: Each optical channel can carry any transmission format

Scalability: WDM technology allows multiple wavelengths of light to be transmitted

simultaneously over a single optical fiber, thereby increasing the capacity of the
network. This increased capacity enables the network to handle higher data rates and
accommodate more users and services

Wavelength routing and switching: wavelength-sensitive optical routing devices

makes it possible to use wavelength as another dimension in designing
communication network and switches. wavelength-routed networks are based on a
rigid fibre infrastructure, wavelength-switched architectures allow reconfigurations
of the optical layer
In a standard point-to-point links, signals from different light sources use
separate and uniquely assigned optical fibres. Since an optical source has a
narrow linewidth, this type of transmission makes use of only a very narrow
portion of the transmission bandwidth capability of a fibre
By using a number of light sources, each emitting at a different peak that is
sufficiently spaced from its neighbour, the integrities of the independent
message from each source are maintained.
WDM Standards
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) allows different data streams to be sent
simultaneously over a single optical fiber network.
The two key WDM technologies are Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing,
CWDM and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing, DWDM.
CWDM
CWDM
● supports up to 18 wavelength channels transmitted over a dark fiber at the same time.
● To achieve this, the different wavelengths of each channel are 20nm apart.
● Two wavelength regions are most commonly associated with CWDM, 1310nm and 1550nm.
● The 1550nm region is more popular because it has a lower loss in the fiber (meaning the signal
can travel farther).
● offers a convenient and cost-efficient solution for shorter distances of up to 70 kilometers.
DWDM
DWDM
DWDM supports up to 80 simultaneous wavelength channels, with each of the channels only 0.8nm
apart.

DWDM connections can be amplified and can, therefore, be used for transmitting data much longer
distances.
Operating Principle of WDM
Operating Principle of WDM

The implementation of WDM network requires a variety of passive and/or active

devices to combine, distribute, isolate, and amplify optical power at different
wavelength.

Passive devices: 1.Require no external control for their operation, 2.limited in their
application flexibility. 3.mainly used to split and combine or tap off optical signals.
4.Wavelength Selective Splitters,Couplers

Active devices: 1. wavelength-dependent 2. can be controlled electronically or

optically, 3. providing a large degree of network flexibility. 4.e.g tunable optical
filters, tunable sources, optical amplifiers.
● WDM uses Several Wavelengths as carriers.
● These carriers can be isolated,routed,and switched without interfering with each
other.
● It consists of: 1. Multiplexer 2. Demultiplexer 3. Optical Amplifiers.
● Transmitter: Multiple light sources—modulated independently–each light source
emits light at unique wavelength.--MUX combines light signals -couples into
single optical fiber.
● Receiver: Demux-separates optical signals- Detection–original signal
Optical Couplers

● May have N inputs and M outputs

● Coupler can combine two or more inputs into a single output and can also
divide a single input into two or more outputs
● 1. Y coupler 2. T Coupler 3. X Coupler 4. Star ….

Coupling Ratio: (O/P Power)/(Total I/P Power)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=JCGHHmS-efw

● Fused Fiber Coupler

● Fabrication: 1. Twisting 2. Melting 3. Stretching over length W
● Two Single mode fibers twisted and fused together.
● Each I/P and O/p has tapering section (lenght-L)
● Po=I/P optical Power P1: Throughput power P2: Couple Power
● P3,P4 extremely low signal levels….(backward reflections,scattering)
Optical Isolator
● A passive optical device that is nonreciprocal
● devices that allow light to pass through them in only one direction
● helps prevent scattered or reflected light from traveling in the reverse direction.
● Prevents instabilities in the optical output
● Consists of:
 ● Light can be represented as a combination of a parallel vibration and a perpendicular
vibration,

which are called the two orthogonal plane polarization states of a lightwave.

• A polarizer is a material or device that transmits only one polarization component and blocks

the other.

• A Faraday rotator is a device that rotates the state of polarization (SOP) of light passing through

it by a specific angular amount.

• A device made from birefringent materials splits the light signal entering it into two orthogonally

(perpendicularly) polarized beams, which then follow different paths through the material.

• A half-wave plate rotates the SOP clockwise by 45° for signals going from left to right, and

counterclockwise by 45° for signals propagating in the other direction.

• Avoids backward-traveling light from entering a laser diode and possibly causing instabilities in the

optical output.
Optical Circulator

● An optical circulator is a nonreciprocal multiport passive device that directs

light sequentially from port to port in only one direction.
● This device is used in optical amplifiers, add/drop multiplexers, and dispersion
compensation modules.