Abstract

Interest in optical data transmission, both in the telecommunications industry and the DoD is rapidly increasing. While the advantages of optical data transmission have been recognized for some time, recent technological breakthroughs in the fabrication of low-loss optical fiber waveguide bundles have made a variety of commercial and military applications feasible. The development of low-loss fiber in turn provided the incentive (for telecommunications concerns in particular) to accelerate development efforts on other elements of optical data links, e.g., light sources, modulators, switches, couplers, distribution components, detectors, and integrated optic circuits.At the same time increased concern about the effects of EMP/EMI and lighting among military customers has spurred interest in fiber optics for Naval shipboard, aircraft, and Army area communications applications. With the widespread interest and broad based support of both commercial and military organizations, rapid development of this technology is anticipated.

© 1975 Optical Society of America