Optical Fibers

Q. 1 Tabulate the differences between single mode and multimode

optical fiber. 
Soln.

More Details - https://electronicscoach.com/difference-between-

single-mode-and-multimode-optical-fiber.html
Q. 2 Explain the construction and light propagation in step‐index
and graded –index optical fiber. Tabulate advantages and
disadvantages of  step‐index and graded –index optical fiber.
Soln.  In optical fiber, a step index fiber is a fiber characterized by a
uniform refractive index within the core and a sharp decrease in
refractive index at the core-cladding interface so that the cladding is
of a lower refractive index.

In a step index fiber, the light rays propagate in zig-zag manner inside
the core. The rays travel in the fiber as meridional rays and they
cross the fiber axis for every reflection.

Graded index fiber is a type of optical fiber where the refractive

index of the core is uniform at the center core and then it decreases
towards core-cladding interface. The uniformity is present because
the refractive index is higher at the axis of the core and continuously
reduces with the radial movement away from the axis. However, the
refractive index of the cladding is constant in the case of graded
index fiber; hence the nature of the refractive index is somehow
parabolic.

The light rays in graded index fiber, propagate in the form of skew
rays or helical rays. They will not cross the fiber axis.

Benefits or advantages of Step Index Fiber

In Step Index R.I. changes suddenly like step function between core
and cladding. This is shown in the figure. Following are the benefits
or advantages of Step Index Fiber:
➨Light is propagated through the graded Index.
➨It is cheaper compare to graded index.
➨It is easy to manufacture.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of Step Index Fiber
Following are the disadvantages of Step Index Fiber:
➨Pulse distortion is more
➨Losses are more
➨Information carrying capacity is less.

Benefits or advantages of Graded Index Fiber

In Graded Index, R.I. is not uniform within the core. At the axis of
core R.I. is maximum. From core to cladding the R.I. decreases. The
light ray is offered a parabolic or sinusoidal path when passed
through it. Following are the benefits or advantages of Graded Index
Fiber:
➨Pulse distortion is reduced.
➨Losses are reduced.
➨Information carrying capacity is increased.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of Graded Index Fiber
Following are the disadvantages of Graded Index Fiber:
➨Difficult to manaufacture.
➨Costly compare to step index fiber.

Q.3 For a step index fiber the core and cladding refractive indices are
1.54 and 1.5 respectively. Calculate following if the fiber is placed in
the water (i) Critical angle, (ii) Fractional refractive index, (iii)
Numerical aperture, and (iv) Acceptance angle in the water.
Q. 4 A step index fiber has a core refractive index 1.425. The
Acceptance angle in air is 8.50o . If the fiber is kept in water
(refractive index=1.33), then what would be new Numerical
aperture and Acceptance angle. 
Q. 5 A step index fiber has a core refractive index 1.52, a diameter
of 29 µm and a fractional refractive index difference of 0.0007. It is
operated at a wavelength of 1.3 µm. Calculate the fiber V‐number
and number of modes that fiber will support.  
Q.6 . Internal critical angle at core‐cladding interface of a step‐index
fiber is 80.6o . Calculate maximum acceptance angle when cladding
refractive index is 1.48. 
Q.7. An optical fiber has numerical aperture of 0.20 and cladding
refractive index of 1.59. Determine the acceptance angle for the
fiber in the water.  
Q. 8. Discuss the properties of following parts of optical fiber using
relevant diagrams (i) core (ii) cladding (iii) Protecting jacket.
Core

The core, which carries the light, is the smallest and the most
important part of the optical fiber. The optical fiber core is
usually made of glass, although some are made of plastic. The
glass used in the core is extremely pure silicon dioxide (SiO2),
In the manufacturing process, dopants such as germania,
phosphorous pentoxide, or alumina are used to raise the
refractive index under controlled conditions.

Optical fiber cores are manufactured in different diameters for

different applications. Based on the core size, there are mainly
two types of optical fiber, single-mode fiber and multimode
fiber. Single-mode fiber has a core of 8 to 10 microns and light
travels toward the center of the core in a single wavelength.
Multimode fiber has a core of either 50 or 62.5 microns.

Cladding

The cladding surrounds the core and has lower refractive index
to make the optical fiber work. When glass cladding is used, the
cladding and the core are manufactured together from the same
silicon dioxide-based material in a permanently fused state. The
manufacturing process adds different amounts of dopants to the
core and the cladding to maintain a difference in refractive
indexes of about 1%.

Protecting Jacket
The coating is the true protective layer of the optical fiber. It
absorbs the shocks, nicks, scrapes, and even moisture that could
damage the cladding. An optical fiber is very fragile without the
coating. A single microscopic nick in the cladding could cause
the optical fiber to break when it’s bent.

 The coating does not contribute to the light-carrying ability of

the optical fiber. The outside diameter of the coating is typically
either 250µm or 500µm.

The coating is selected for a specific type of performance or

environment. One common coating type is acrylate. This coating
is typically applied in two layers. The primary coating is applied
directly on the cladding. This coating is soft and provides a
cushion for the optical fiber when it is bent. The secondary
coating is harder than the primary coating and provides a hard
outer surface.

Q. 9 Describe the various ways of fibre losses? The signal

attenuation per kilometer of an optical fiber of length 8km is
1.5dB/km. Calculate the mean optical input power of the fiber if
mean optical output power is 20 μW. 

Attenuation
Attenuation is the loss of optical signal due to absorption, scattering, bending, and other parameters
of optical fiber over a long distance. when light is transmitted through OFC, light intensity through the
fiber optic decreases between transmitter and receiver.

 Absorption Loss
Absorption loss is due to the presence of metal particle in the glass components of a fiber optic cable.
These impurities absorb the light travelling through the material.Modern fabrication techniques can
reduce impurity levels.

Scattering Loss
Scattering losses occur when light ray interacts with a particle with different density level and sent in
all direction without any absorption. scattering loss is due to the interaction of light with more dense or
light region within a fiber.

Dispersion / Chromatic dispersion

Dispersion is the spreading of the signal over time.When light emit from the source, it contains
multiple wavelength and speed. Spreading of the signal is due to the different speeds of light rays.
These dispersed rays do not arrive at same time and result in chromatic distortion.

Bend / Radiation Loss

Bend loss is  generated by improper handling of fiber optic cable.It is caused by fiber optic bend.
There are two basic types of bend loss.The following causes introduces the bend loss:

 Defects of manufacturing.
 local mechanical mechanical on the fiber.

Micro bending: Micro bending are small microscopic bends that occur mainly in the core-cladding
interface. Micro bend change the path of light wave up to a few microns..

Macro bending: Happens when the fiber is bent into a large radius . It is found in a splice tray. when
fibers are bent below a certain radius, radiation causes big light power loss.
Modal dispersion
Inter modal dispersion occur due to multiple mode of propagation in multi mode fiber. Since, many
modes are propagating, different wavelengths & different velocities will take different time to
propagate through the fiber, which leads to inter modal dispersion.