This directory consists of the following sections: Organizations Print and Online Magazines Articles and Other Reference Material FAQs Glossaries Tutorials Suppliers of Optical Fiber Suppliers of Components Suppliers of Instrumentation Employment Other Optical Fiber Sites of Interest Miscellaneous Optical Sites.

Organizations:

• The Center for Advanced Fiberoptic Applications - a non-profit consortium of industry, government and academia.
• Fiber Jack Industry Roundtable - promotes the Fiber Jack connector. Members include manufacturers, vendors, installers, end-users and consultants. Sponsored by Panduit Corporation.
• The Fibreoptic Industry Association - a UK organization comprised of manufacturers, suppliers, installers and users. Inaugurated in 1990 and based in Buntingford, Hertfordshire.
• The Fiber Optics LAN Section of TIA - established in 1993 to educate end users and network designers about the advantages of optical LANs. This site contains white papers, case studies and links to past articles.
• Plastic Optical Fiber Interest Group - (POFIG) promotes the common business interests of its members and the plastic optical fiber industry.

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Print and Online Magazines:

• Fiber Exchange - offers information about business strategies and network capacity. This site contains current and archived articles.
• Fiberoptic Product News Online - the web site for Fiberoptic Product News. The site contains brief news articles, a new product database, company profiles, an events calendar and a career center.
• Fiber Optics Online - provides short news articles, product information and market information, free email, discussion forums and an events calendar.
• Fibre Systems - a European magazine about fiber optics business, technology and products. The site contains short news articles.
• Lightwave - a monthly magazine about fiber optic communications technology. Site contains articles and product information.
• Optical Networks Magazine - an international, peer-reviewed quarterly magazine about the research, development and commercialization of optical communications technologies. Published jointly by The International Society for Optical Engineering and Baltzer Science Publishers. Web site contains abstracts from the current issue.
• PhotonicsFiber.com - an online newsletter which provides news articles, new product information and a calendar of events.

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Articles and Other Reference Material:

• About POF - introductory information about plastic optical fiber, by Boston Optical Fiber.
• Application Notes - information about polarization in optical fiber components, by OZ Optics.
• Beyond Discovery: Modern Communication: The Laser and Fiber-Optic Revolution - a good introduction to the history of optical fiber communications. A National Academy of Sciences website.
• Cleaning and Care of Fiber Optic Connectors - by Gould Fiber Optics.
• Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers in Networks - by Ditech Communications.
• Everything You Wanted to Know About dB - information on decibels, by Gould Fiber Optics.
• Fiber Finds Its Footing - a 1999 article from PC Magazine Online.
• A Fiber-Optic Chronology - an outline of fiber optics history through 1996, by Jeff Hecht.
• Fiber-Optic Formulas - formulae and data for determining the number of modes, losses due to core radius mismatch, losses due to angular misalignment, optical dB units, acceptance angle, coupling loss from a combination of misalignments, effects of bending, etc. Provided by Optics For Research.
• Fiber Optics to the Home - a recent article from Technology Review, by Jeff Hecht.
• Fluorescent/Scintillating Optical Fiber - a brief explanation by Industrial Fiber Optics.
• Graded Index Plastic Optical Fibers: Quo Vadis? - by Boston Optical Fiber.
• Improved erbium-doped optical fiber for L band use - a 1999 news report about an advance by Sumitomo Electric.
• Issues in Digital Transmission with EDFAs - by Ditech Communications.
• Lennie Lightwave's Guide to Fiber Optic Installation - a light-hearted romp through the world of fiber optic installation and testing courtesy of Fotec and Fiber U.
• POF in Home Networks - a 1999 article from FiberOptic Product News.
• Polishing - an introduction by Seiko Instruments, which also makes a line of polishing machines.
• Rare Earth Doped For Fiber Laser Applications - a very brief but illustrated description of the production process, by Kigre.
• The Role of Channel Monitoring in DWDM Networks - by Ditech Communications.
• A Short History of Fiber Optics - a chapter from Fiber Optics Technician's Handbook by Jim Hayes.
• A study of degraded light coupling into single-mode fibers - a 1998 article by Cyril Ruilier.

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FAQs:

• Frequently Asked Questions - information about laser-to-fiber couplers, by OZ Optics.

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Glossaries:

• Glossary - by Nanoptics.
• A Glossary of Fiber Optic Industry Abbreviations - by Boston Optical Fiber.
• Glossary of Terms - by Seiko Instruments.
• Photonics Dictionary - by Laurin Publishing.

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Tutorials:

• Fiber Optics Tutorial - covers sensors, evanescent wave technology, optical contact, polarization modes, polarization mode dispersion, polarization field rotation, polarization maintaining fiber, polarization isolation and cross coupling. Provided by Canadian Instrumentation & Research.
• Fiber Optic Tutorial - covers fiber optic endoscopes and principles of fiber optics. Provided by Nanoptics.
• Fibre Optics - covers theory, production, splicing, system design, light sources and sensors. Provided by Bell College of Technology, in the UK.
• Fiber U Online - teaches about the basics of fiber optics, similar to the material used in the company's classroom sessions. Provided by Fotec Inc.
• Tutorial - six page introduction that covers bandwidth limitations, attenuation, fiber preparation, mode scrambling and other topics. Provided by Newport.

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Suppliers of Optical Fiber:

• Amorphous Materials Inc. - produces infrared transmitting fibers. Founded in 1977, based in Garland, TX.
• Asahi Chemical Industry Ltd - one of Japan's largest producers of fine chemicals. It has developed a high heat resistance optical fiber jointly with JSR Corporation for use in automobiles.
• Boston Optical Fiber - manufacturer of plastic optical fiber for data communications, illumination, medical, automotive, aerospace and sensor applications. Founded in 1992, with headquarters in Westborough, MA.
• CeramOptec Inc. - maker of standard and custom silica and polymer clad fiber and low loss bundles and assemblies. Founded in 1987 and based in East Longmeadow, MA.
• Corning Incorporated - claims to be the world's largest manufacturer of optical fiber.
• Fibercore Ltd. - UK supplier of specialized optical fiber and products, including photosensitive fiber, polarization maintaining fibers, special fiber cables, bend-insensitive fiber, erbium doped fiber and EDFA products. Based in Southampton.
• Fujikura Electric Company Ltd - major Japanese manufacturer of optical fiber and copper cables. Headquartered in Tokyo.
• Furukawa Electric Company Ltd - major Japanese manufacturer of optical fiber and copper cables. Based in Tokyo.
• Hitachi Cable Company Ltd - major Japanese manufacturer of optical fiber and copper cables and a member of the Hitachi industrial group. Headquartered in Tokyo.
• Infrared Fiber Systems Inc. - specialist supplier of infrared fiber optics, bundles, delivery systems and bulk glass. Located in Silver Spring, MD.
• INO - Canada's largest optics and photonics R&D center and a producer of specialty optical fibers. Located in Sainte-Foy, Quebec.
• JSR Corporation - has developed a high temperature plastic optical fiber as well as an advanced UV-curing optical fiber coating. This leading Japanese manufacturer of rubber is based in Tokyo.
• LITESPEC Optical Fiber L.L.C. - joint venture of LITESPEC Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lucent Technologies and Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries. It was formed in 1989 to produce single mode optical fiber and is located in Research Triangle Park, NC.
• Lumenyte International Corporation - specialist producer of large, solid cord plastic optical fiber for lighting applications. Located in Irvine, CA.
• Mitsubishi Rayon Company Ltd - established in 1933 as a producer of rayon and today is Japan's dominant producer of plastic optical fiber. Also develops components for use with plastic optical fiber. The Mitsubishi group company is headquartered in Tokyo.
• Photon Technologies - Malaysian manufacturer of silica glass optical fiber and fiber cables. Began commercial production in 1996.
• Polymicro Technologies - produces multimode, step-index fused silica optical fiber, optical fiber cables, optical fiber assemblies and optical components. Established in 1984 and located in Phoenix, AZ.
• Redfern Fibres Pty Ltd - Australian producer of ASOF, including erbium-doped fibers, highly-birefringent bow-tie fibers and spun fibers. Established in 1998 and located in Eveleigh NSW.
• Sumita Optical Glass - Japanese specialist prroducer of optical glass and glass optical fiber. Optical fiber products include optical cord, light guides, sensor heads, image bundles, fiberscopes, light rod conduits and light sources. Headquartered in Tokyo.
• Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd - Japan's largest manufacturer of electric wire and cable as well as quartz optical fiber. The Sumitomo group company is headquartered in Osaka.

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Suppliers of Components:

• ADVA Optical Service & Solutions - supplier of advanced optical networking solutions for the communications industry, including WDM communications systems, high speed fiber optic converters and all-optical switches. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Munich, Germany.
• Amherst FiberOptics - North American distributor for Ericsson Cables AB. Provides full fiber optic services, including engineering, splicing and networking solutions as well as a wide range of fiber optic equipment. Located in Sarasota, FL.
• Applied Fiber Telecommunications Inc. - makes fiber optic jumpers, CATV service cable assemblies, patch cords and patch cable. Started in 1992 and headquartered in Albany, GA.
• Ditech Communications Corporation - supplier of equipment for voice and data networks, including optical amplifiers and WDM products, which allow one fiber optic connection to carry multiple gigabits of information. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Mountain View, CA.
• Fiberdyne Labs Inc. - manufactures fiber optic networking products and photonic products for the CATV, telecommunications and data/LAN industries. Products include splitters/couplers, attenuators, wave division multiplexers, distribution centers, interconnect assemblies, ethernet switches, transceivers, repeaters and converters. Located in Frankfort, NY.
• Fiber Optic Center Inc. - supplier of standard and hard-to-find fiber optic components, including connectors, adhesives, fibers, tools and test equipment. Located in New Bedford, MA.
• Fiber Optic Network Technology - Canadian manufacturer and distributor of premium quality fused fiber optic couplers, WDMs, filters, attenuators and semiconductor lasers. Located in Coquitlam, BC.
• Fiberoptic Systems Inc. - producer of light pipes and other fiber optics custom assemblies for aerospace, military, medical, computer and industrial applications. Established in 1982 and based in Simi Valley, CA.
• G & H Technology, Inc. - producer of optical missile interstage connectors, optical hermetic connectors, optical/electrical hybrid connectors and harnesses, custom termini and optical hermetic connectors for high-pressure underwater cable assemblies. Located in Camarillo, CA.
• Gould Fiber Optics - produces optical couplers, optical isolators, attenuators and DWDMs. This division of Gould Electronics is based in Millersville, MD.
• Industrial Fiber Optics Inc. - provides plastic fiber optic components including LEDs, photodetectors, cable, patch cords, connectors and tools as well as training modules. Based in Tempe, AZ.
• Infineon Technologies AG - offers fiber optic components, data links and cable assemblies for datacom and telecom applications as well as detectors, emitters, plastic fiber and WDM components. Changed its name from Siemens Semiconductors in 1999.
• INO - Canada's largest optics and photonics R&D center. Products include erbium-doped amplifiers, specialty optical fibers and laser diodes. Established as the National Optics Institute in 1985 and located in Sainte-Foy, Quebec.
• International Fiberoptic Technologies Inc. - manufactures single mode and multimode passive components such as couplers/splitters, WDMs, attenuators, system simulators, dead zone devices, cable assemblies, boxes and management panels. Located in Mebane, NC.
• The IRE-Polus Group - produces erbium amplifiers, ytterbium amplifiers, Raman lasers, erbium lasers and ytterbium lasers. The newest member of the group is IPG Photonics, which is located in Sturbridge, MA. Also one company each in Germany, the UK, Canada, Italy and Russia.
• Kigre,Inc. - manufactures pretested systems, subsystems and customized laboratory laser systems. Headquartered in Hilton Head, SC.
• LEMO - Swiss manufacturer of optical and electrical connectors. Headquarters is near Lausanne.
• Metrotek Industries, Inc. - specialty distributor of fiber optic connectors, adaptors, cable assemblies, attenuators, etc. Located in St. Petersburg, FL.
• Molecular OptoElectronics Corporation - produces variable optical attenuators and 1550nm optical amplifiers. Based in Watervliet, NY.
• Nanoptics, Inc. - specialist in made-to-order plastic optical fiber and a leading manufacturer of fluorescent plastic optical fiber. Also fabricates scintillating, wavelength shifting and fused fiberoptic devices on a custom basis. Incorporated in 1987 in Gainesville, FL. Web site contains a brief glossary and tutorial.
• O/E Land Inc. - Canadian producer of phase masks, Bragg gratings, high power metal masks, long period gratings, recirculating systems, Raman amplifiers, laser pattern generators, micro lens arrays and other components. Incorporated in 1997 and located in Lachine, Quebec.
• Optical Polymer Research Inc. - offers a patented family of cladding polymers for glass and plastic fiber, light pipes and cable. Based in Gainesville, FL.
• Optical Solutions, Inc. - manufacturer and integrator of optical receivers, transmitters, and interface devices for broadband fiber-to-the-home networks. Established in 1994 and located in Minneapolis, MN.
• Optics For Research - produces a variety of standard and custom components for fiber optics applications, including optical isolators, Faraday rotators, optical circulators and coupling lenses. Based in Caldwell, NJ.
• OptoCom Innovation - French manufacturer of high-performance fiber amplifiers and lasers for the telecommunications, instrumentation and R&D markets. Based in Lannion.
• OZ Optics - Canadian fiber optic component manufacturer which produces for the telecommunications, CATV, computer, industrial, military, medical, sensor, and educational markets. Founded in 1985, located near Ottawa.
• Panduit Corporation - produces optical fiber jacks and other products for networks. Based in Tinley Park, IL.
• PM Mfg. Services Inc. - offers plastic optical fiber finishing machines, connectors and fiber optic bundles. Based in Illinois.
• Saphikon Inc. - specialist producer of sapphire products for fiber optics, lasers and semiconductor processing. Located in Milford, NH.
• Seiko Instruments USA Inc. - provides optical fiber connectors, ferrules, polishers, termination services, attenuators, switches and other components. This site also contains a custom cable creator as well as a tutorial and glossary. Headquartered in Torrance, CA and a subsidiary of Seiko Instruments Ltd of Tokyo, Japan.
• Senko Advanced Components Inc. - produces ferrules, connectors, adapters and attenuators. Founded in 1949 and located in Southborough, MA. A subsidiary of Senko Sangyo Company Ltd of Japan.
• The Siemon Company - producer of optical fiber connectors, interconnect centers, outlet boxes, plug and play products, protection systems, blown fiber products, fiber storage centers, splice trays and compressing fittings. Founded in 1903 as a manufacturer of carving knife handles. Headquarters in Watertown, MA.
• Three E Laboratories, Inc. - manufacturer of hermetic fiber optic feedthroughs, connectors and hermetic device package. Based in Montgomeryville, PA.
• ThorLabs Inc. - provides a variety of optical fibers, connectors, isolators, laser diodes and other optical components. Established in 1989 and based in Newton, NJ.
• 3M - offers a complete premises wiring solution from the building entry to the computer. Claims to have the first fiber structured cabling solution that is a viable, cost-effective alternative to copper. The 3M Telecom Systems Division is headquartered in Austin, TX.
• Wave Optics Inc. - supplier of cable assemblies, bare fibers, custom processed fibers, couplers, attenuators, fiber arrays, polarizers, V-grooves and collimators. Established in 1989 and headquartered in Mountain View, CA.

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Suppliers of Instrumentation:

• Canadian Instrumentation & Research Ltd. - producer of polarization preserving fiber optic evanescent wave devices for communications and sensor applications, including splice free arrays, interferometers, custom assemblies, precision mechanical assemblies and electronic control systems. Established in 1975 and based in Burlington, Ontario.
• EXFO Inc. - Canadian manufacturer of test and measurement equipment for the fiber optics industry, including polarization controllers, spectrum analyzers, PMD analyzers, multiwavelength meters and an exclusive modular test system. Founded in 1985 and based in Quebec.
• Fotec, Inc. - specialist manufacturer of fiber optic test equipment. Founded in 1981 and based in Medford, MA. The web site contains technical and application information on fiber optics as well as fiber optics training programs.
• ILX Lightwave - producer of test equipment for fiber optic telecommunications. Founded in 1986 and located in Bozeman, MT.
• Newport Corporation - makes an extensive line of components, tools and instruments for use with optical fiber and lasers, including products for fiber alignment, light sources, high speed detectors, couplers, isolators, filters and circulators. Established in 1969 and located in Irvine, CA.
• Ocean Optics Inc. - produces low-cost miniature fiber optic spectrometers and accessories. Established in 1989 and based in Dunedin, FL.
• ThorLabs, Inc. - designs and manufactures a variety of scientific products and instruments for the optics and laser research industry. Established in 1989 and located in Newton, NJ.

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Employment:

• Photonics Employment Center contains listing of jobs available and allows posting and viewing of resumes. By Laurin Publishing Company.

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Other Optical Fiber Sites of Interest:

• FLUOR - Fiber Linked Unit for Optical Recombination - scientific instrument that uses single-mode fibers to filter out the atmospheric turbulence and to calibrate the interferometric in infrared astronomical interferometry.
• NASA Langley Photonics Group - has developed a fiber optic instrument for hydrogen detection in Shuttle aft engine compartment.
• Palo Alto Community Center Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Trial - contains news and application information about this experiment in Northern California.

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Miscellaneous Optical Sites:

• LASERS - A Guide to Resources on the Internet - a directory of websites about all types of lasers.
• Office of Spectrum Management - this U.S. Department of Commerce site includes the U.S. Frequency Allocation Chart and the NTIA Manual of Spectrum Rules and Regulations (both in pdf format).
• The WWW Polymers Directory - extensive polymer links.