As the editor, I feel extremely happy to present to the readers such a rich collection of chapters authored/co-authored by a large number of experts from around the world covering the broad field of guided wave optics and optoelectronics. Most of the chapters are state-of-the-art on respective topics or areas that are emerging. Several authors narrated technological challenges in a lucid manner, which was possible because of individual expertise of the authors in their own subject specialties. I have no doubt that this book will be useful to graduate students, teachers, researchers, and practicing engineers and technologists and that they would love to have it on their book shelves for ready reference at any time.

As the editor, I feel extremely happy to present to the readers such a rich collection of chapters authored/co-authored by a large number of experts from around the world covering the broad field of guided wave optics and optoelectronics. Most of the chapters are state-of-the-art on respective topics or areas that are emerging. Several authors narrated technological challenges in a lucid manner, which was possible because of individual expertise of the authors in their own subject specialties. I have no doubt that this book will be useful to graduate students, teachers, researchers, and practicing engineers and technologists and that they would love to have it on their book shelves for ready reference at any time.

Uniquely combines both the optical and electrical properties of guided-wave optoelectronic devices, providing key concepts and practical analytical techniques.

The first guided-wave components that employed signals in the form of light beams traveling along thin films were fabricated a little more than two decades ago. The parallel development of semiconductor lasers and the subsequent availability of low-loss optical fibers made possible the imple- mentation of completely optical systems for communications, signal pro- cessing and other applications that had used only electronic circuitry in the past. Referred to as integrated optics, this technology has been rein- forced by utilizing electronic components that act as controlling elements or perform other functions for which the optical counterparts are not as effec- tive. The broader area thus generated was aptly named optoelectronics and it currently represents a fascinating, rapidly evolving and most promising technology. Specifically, the amalgamation of electronic and optics compo- nents into an integrated optoelectronics format is expected to provide a wide range of systems having miniaturized, high speed, broad band and reliable components for telecommunications, data processing, optical computing and other applications in the near and far future. This book is intended to cover primarily the optical portion of the op- toelectronics area by focusing on the theory and applications of components that use guided optical waves. Hence all aspects of integrated optics are dis- cussed, but optoelectronic components having primarily electronic rather than optical functions have not been included. Each chapter has been writ- ten by experts who have actively participated in developing the specific areas addressed by them.

Guided Wave Optics and Photonic Devices introduces readers to a broad cross-section of topics in this area, from the basics of guided wave optics and nonlinear optics to biophotonics. The book is inspired by and expands on lectures delivered by distinguished speakers at a three-week school on guided wave optics and devices organized at the CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute in Kolkata in 2011. An Introduction to Guided Wave Optics and Photonic Devices: Principles, Applications, and Future Directions The book discusses the concept of modes in a guided medium from first principles, emphasizing the importance of dispersion properties in optical fibers. It describes fabrication and characterization techniques of rare-earth-doped optical fibers for amplifiers and lasers, with an eye to future applications. Avoiding complex mathematical formalism, it also presents the basic theory and operational principles of fiber amplifiers and lasers. The book examines techniques for writing fiber Bragg gratings, which are of particular interest for smart sensing applications. A chapter focuses on the fundamental principles of Fourier optics and its implementation in guided wave optics. In addition, the book explains the critical phenomena of soliton dynamics and supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber, including its fabrication process and characteristics. It also looks at plasmonics in guided media and nonlinearity in stratified media—both key areas for future research. The last chapter explores the importance of lasers in biophotonic applications. Written by experts engaged in teaching, research, and development in optics and photonics, this reference brings together fundamentals and recent advances in one volume. It offers a valuable overview of the field for students and researchers alike and identifies directions for future research in guided wave and photonic device technology.

The first guided-wave components that employed signals in the form of light beams traveling along thin films were fabricated a little more than two decades ago. The parallel development of semiconductor lasers and the subsequent availability of low-loss optical fibers made possible the imple mentation of completely optical systems for communications, signal pro cessing and other applications that had used only electronic circuitry in the past. Referred to as integrated optics, this technology has been rein forced by utilizing electronic components that act as controlling elements or perform other functions for which the optical counterparts are not as effec tive. The broader area thus generated was aptly named optoelectronics and it currently represents a fascinating, rapidly evolving and most promising technology. Specifically, the amalgamation of electronic and optics compo nents into an integrated optoelectronics format is expected to provide a wide range of systems having miniaturized, high speed, broad band and reliable components for telecommunications, data processing, optical computing and other applications in the near and far future. This book is intended to cover primarily the optical portion of the op toelectronics area by focusing on the theory and applications of components that use guided optical waves. Hence all aspects of integrated optics are dis cussed, but optoelectronic components having primarily electronic rather than optical functions have not been included. Each chapter has been writ ten by experts who have actively participated in developing the specific areas addressed by them.

This book has grown out of a need for a beginning graduate level text which emphasizes the unifying concepts of the field of guided wave optics. Over the past twenty years, progress in this field has been so rapid, and therefore so helter-skelter, that it is hard, even for the fully involved practitioner no less the aspiring student, to see the unifying concepts. As will be discussed more fully below, there are at present quite a number of texts in the guided wave area. These texts vary in nature from the popular treatise to the voluminous scholarly work. I know of none, however, that treats the waveguide, semi conductor laser, fiber and fiber component, and integrated optic component all on equal footing using the forms of Maxwell's equations in polarizable media and coupled forms of Maxwell's equations as unifying tools. This book emphasizes basic concepts, yet is quantitative in nature and contains numerous applications. The book is designed to be used by the beginning graduate student or the professional who needs to review or catch up on the basics. Here at the University of Colorado, this text is generally used for a follow-up course to one in Physical Optics. The Physical Optics text employed, also written by the present author, primarily includes material which should be familiar to students with a strong background in optics or practitioners of guided waves.