Photonics

Just as the beginnings of electrical engineering came before the discovery of the electron, A. G. Bell´s demonstration of the photophone-the granddaddy of photonics experiments in the context of communications-came before the era of the photon. History, like everyday life, abounds with proof that one can do a lot with elements of the natural world without fully understanding them. But better understanding of nature´s fundamentals, a worthy end in itself, often unlocks a world of applications, and photonics technology is hot on the heels of electronics in proving that again. The paper reviews the development of photonics technology such as the the use of quantum mechanical devices as light sources, as well as glass fibers engineered to guide light waves over worthwhile distances for optical communication, WDM systems, and SONET/SDH systems