Book excerpt: Photonic devices lie at the heart of the communications revolution, and have become a large and important part of the electronic engineering field, so much so that many colleges now treat this as a subject in its own right. With this in mind, the author has put together a unique textbook covering every major photonic device, and striking a careful balance between theoretical and practical concepts. The book assumes a basic knowledge of optics, semiconductors and electromagnetic waves. Many of the key background concepts are reviewed in the first chapter. Devices covered include optical fibers, couplers, electro-optic devices, magneto-optic devices, lasers and photodetectors. Problems are included at the end of each chapter and a solutions set is available. The book is ideal for senior undergraduate and graduate courses, but being device driven it is also an excellent engineers' reference.