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This chapter focuses on the gradual and time-needed advancements made in the field of photonics. It also highlights the evolution taken place in the devices which are being used and prepared for future trends as well. The traditional and nontraditional motivations regarding selection of silicon as the enabling material for the usefulness of photonics and SOI waveguides and their types are also presented with great emphasis and depth. Reviewing the silicon photonics technology, it is evident that this field has grown rapidly in the recent years. The revolutionized advancement in information technology has spread the interest of nonlinear photonics to every corner of the world. Presently installed power-hungry infrastructure of telecom and information industry has to be improved or changed with silicon-based energy efficient green photonics. The data-hungry new telecom applications, super computer interconnection structures, sensors, and medicine are a few examples of ever increasing Keywords Silicon photonics • Silicon-on-insulator waveguides • Waveguides

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In this chapter, the standards of optical communication and network theory are highlighted with their applications and significance in the respective areas. It also examines the characteristics of optical communication systems by discussing different communication media. The devices being used and considered for future consideration are also discussed and summarized for optical networks. The first generation optical networks were essentially point-to-point links where the fiber-optic link was used only as a replacement for the copper cables [1]. The optical signal propagating through the optical fiber was detected electronically, regenerated using a semiconductor transponder, and transmitted optically over fiber to the next opto-electronic repeater. The routing and switching functions were done electronically at the network nodes. In addition, each node had to handle not only the traffic destined for it but also all other traffic that was being routed through that node. Keywords

In this chapter, the effects of nonlinearity in optical fiber communication link have been discussed and highlighted. Desirable effects of nonlinearity in general and undesirable effects, in particular, in an optical fiber are enumerated with examples. Cross-phase modulation (XPM) and high-nonlinearity (HNL) glasses along with their advantages and disadvantages are spelled out with the help of their theories and applications in practical systems. Keywords Nonlinear • Pulse broadening • Polarization fluctuation • Pulse walk-off Introduction to Linearity and NonlinearityNonlinearity is very interesting and important phenomena particularly in the field of engineering and its applied areas. Usually, a misconception prevails about nonlinearity and its subsequent applications in engineering systems, which in fact, is incorrect. On the contrary, nonlinear behavior can effectively be exploited for many useful applications in engineering design and analysis. In order to understand nonlinearity in true prospective, the under-mentioned examples from daily life could be helpful for the purpose.While driving a vehicle, when a driver presses accelerator, the car speeds up proportionally to the acceleration, if the car gains 100 km/h speed in 6 s, this is a total linear behavior.On the other hand, if a person visits a departmental store where a single bar of chocolate costs $5; however, in case a deal is offered, that is, if a person buys more than one bar of chocolate, 20 % discount is offered. This exhibits a nonlinear behavior as the purchased items (chocolates) is not proportional to the money paid. Both of the above-mentioned examples complement the fact that nonlinearity can be at times useful as well.