Lightwave technology refers to technological developments based on the use of light in place of microwaves, and Agrawal (optics, U. of Rochester, New York) offers a two-volume textbook on it for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses such as optical communications, optoelectronics, and lightwave technology itself. This second volume deals with the system design, discussing such aspects as modulation formats and multiplexing techniques for forming an optical bit stream; the degradation of an optical signal through loss, dispersion, and nonlinear effects during transmission through optical fibers; managing degradation; and engineering issues related to designing optical systems and networks. The first volume is subtitled Components and Devices. The disk contains software helpful in solving the chapter- end problems.