1. Light Sources
   1. Overview - photodiodes, laser (gas / semiconductor)…. comparison on performance - linearity, noise, response, power, reliability…etc.
   2. LED - structure, material, quantum effect, modulation, transient, bandwidth, power….etc.
   3. Laser Diodes
2. Optical Fibers
   1. Step Index Fiber - dispersions, modes (leaky, hybrid, transverse, linearly-polarized…), structure, properties
   2. Graded Index Fiber
   3. Comparison on Single Mode Step Index and Multimode Graded Index Fiber - EM fields, power flow, dispersions, cost / Performance, Non-linearity
3. Couplers and Connectors
   1. Splices (mechanical, fusion) - performance, reliability, alignment, surface finish…etc.
   2. Connectors - Lens-coupled, Butt-coupled (Tube, Sleeve, Eccentric, Tapered, Rod, Bushing, Four-pin, Ferrule…)
   3. Couplers - Star, Directional, Performance (Loss, Mismatch, Alignment..)
4. Power Launching
   1. Source to Fiber Coupling - Single Mode vs. Multimode, methods, efficiency….
   2. Transmitter vs. Receiver, Source Pattern, Wavelength dependence, comparison
   3. Source Coupling Losses - Reflection, Mismatch, Packing Fraction, Numerical Aperture….
5. Light Detectors
   1. PN, Pin Photodiodes - principles, structures, performance (response time, noise, gain, efficiency)...
   2. Avalanche Photodiodes
   3. Phototransistors
6. Modulation
   1. Analog - AM, IM, FM, PM, PL, ASK, OOK….. circuits, comparison with other modulation schemes
   2. Digital - AM/IM, PPM, PDM, FSK, PSK, DPSK,
   3. Multilevel Modulations - N-PSK, N-QAM, N-4QSK, N-4Q-QAM, WD-FSK & Phase Noise
7. Multiplexing
   1. Time Division (TDM)
   2. Frequency & Wavelength Division (FDM / WDM)
   3. Comparison of TDM, WDM & SDM (Space Division) - physical structure, cost, performance
8. Noise
   1. Signal-to-Noise Ratio
   2. Noise & Error Rate
   3. Thermal & Shot Noise - What? How? Magnitude? Minimize?
   4. Intensity & Competition Noise
   5. Partition Noise
   6. Modal Noise
9. Signal Degradation
   1. Attenuation - absorption, scattering, radiation, fiber
   2. Distortion - delay, material, waveguide & intermodal dispersion
   3. Pulse broadening in Graded-Index Waveguides and Mode Coupling
10. Receivers
    1. Single Branch vs. Balanced Receiver
    2. Polarization vs. Phase Diversity Receiver
    3. Heterodyne Reveiver
11. System Considerations
    1. Analog
    2. Digital
    3. Repeaters
12. Muliterminal Network
    1. WDM Systems - frequency stabilization, crosstalk
    2. FDM Systems - channel interference, non-linear effect in propagation
    3. SCM (Sub-Carrier Multiplexing) Systems
    4. Power Budget & Distribution Systems - components considerations
13. Components
    1. Amplifier
    2. Switches
    3. Filter
    4. Isolators
14. Integrated Optics
    1. Overview - state-of-the art technology
    2. Components - waveguide, coupler, detector, laser
    3. Modulators