Determining Design Parameters of an Optical Communication System via Complementary Techniques

The analysis for defining design parameters of most optical communication systems is customarily accomplished through a determination of the propagation characteristics of the system components via a solution of Maxwell\u27s equations for specific boundry [sic] value problems. This usually requires relatively complex mathematical computations and a rather difficult conceptual model which limits the degree to which it can be meaningfully presented to middle managers and craft personnel of operating telephone companies. The rapid advancement of this technology has left an information gap between the design engineer and the operating personnel who are required to implement and maintain optical communication systems. The geometrical optics approach can be utilized to convey the concepts of light propagation and serve as a first order approximation in system design