A Set of Fiber Optics Experiments

A set of ten experiments designed to introduce undergraduate electrical engineering students to the area of fiber optics is described. The projects include measurement of pertinent parameters of optical fibers, sources, and detectors (the major components of fiber optic systems), the construction of a simple fiber optic communication link, the use of an optical fiber as a sensor of acoustic waves, and the making of a holographic optical element to serve as a fiber coupler. Although the experiments are expressly designed for a project-type laboratory, they are also suitable for other situations such as classroom demonstrations.