Which component of a digital optical network receives modulated light waves and converts them to an electrical signal?

The component that receives modulated light waves and converts them to an electrical signal is indeed the optical transponder. This device plays a crucial role in digital optical networks by functioning as an interface between the optical signal and the electrical signal necessary for further processing or transmission.

The optical transponder performs two fundamental operations: first, it receives the incoming optical signals, which are typically modulated light waves carrying information. Then, it demodulates these signals, converting them into an electrical format that can be understood and processed by electronic devices or systems downstream. This conversion is essential for enabling the transmission of data across different mediums and ensuring that the information carried by the light waves is accurately interpreted.

In contrast, other options include components with different functions. For instance, optical amplifiers are used to boost the strength of optical signals without converting them to electrical signals, while optical filters serve to select or eliminate specific wavelengths within an optical signal. Optical splitters, on the other hand, are used to distribute signals to multiple outputs, maintaining the same optical format without converting to electrical signals. Thus, they do not fulfill the function of converting modulated light to an electrical signal like the optical transponder does.