This tres tise continues the format established in the books of Volume 2 1,
in which a subject of outstanding interest and one possessing ever-increasing
practical applications is treated in a multivolume work organized by a guest
editor of international repute. The present series, which consists of five
volumes (designated as Volume 22, Parts A through E) deals with an area
that is experiencing a technological revolution and is destined to have a
far-reaching impact in the near future-not only in the communications
and data-processing fields, but also in numerous ancillary areas involving,
for example, control systems, interconnects that maintain individual system
isolation, and freedom from noise emanating from stray electromagnetic
fields.
That the excitement engendered by the rapid pace of developments in
lightwave communications technology is universal is borne out by the large
number of contributions to this series by authors from abroad. It is indeed
fortunate that W. T. Tsang, who is most highly knowledgeable in this field
and has made so many personal contributions, has been able to take the time
to put together a work of the extent and excellence of the present series. The
treatise editors are also greatly indebted to Dr. Pate1 and the other colleagues
of Dr. Tsang at AT&T Bell Laboratories, without whose understanding and
encouragement this group of books would not have been possible.