Using optical links to interconnect digital equipment

Optical-fiber links are now frequently being used to interconnect digital equipment, such as computers and their peripherals. A link consists of a transmitter with an electrical input, an optical fiber and a receiver with an electrical output . . . The panel will address a number of issues, including the new functions that should be included in transmitters and receivers, devices needed for the next generation of equipment, possible new applications, and other types of optical interconnections for digital equipment, such as free-space optical links.