1/19/2014

• TYPES OF OPTICAL FIBRE,

Optical fibers are classified based on
 Material (previous lecture)
 Number of modes and
 Refractive index profile

Optical fibers based on modes or mode types :

Mode is the one which describes the nature of
propagation of electromagnetic waves in a wave guide.
i.e. it is the allowed direction whose associated angles
satisfy the conditions for total internal reflection and
constructive interference.
Based on the number of modes that propagates through
the optical fiber, they are classified as:
Single mode fibers
Multi mode fibers

Understanding the characteristics of different

fiber types aides in understanding the
applications for which they are used. Operating
a fiber optic system properly relies on knowing
what type of fiber is being used and why. There
are two basic types of fiber: multimode fiber
optic cable and single-mode fiber optic
cable. Multimode fiber is best designed for short
transmission distances, and is suited for use in
LAN systems and video surveillance. Single-
mode fiber is best designed for longer
transmission distances, making it suitable for
long-distance telephony and multichannel
television broadcast systems.

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Single mode fibers:

In a fiber, if only one mode is transmitted through it, then it is
said to be a single mode fiber.
“V Number” :The Normalized Frequency Parameter of a fiber,
also called the V number, is a useful specification. Many fiber
parameters can be expressed in terms of V, such as: the
number of modes at a given wavelength, mode cut off
conditions, and propagation constants. For example, the
number of guided modes in a step index multimode fiber is
given by V2/2, and a step index fiber becomes single-mode for
a given wavelength when V<2.405. Mathematically, V=2
π·NA·a/λ where “a” is the fiber core radius.

A typical single mode fiber may have a core radius of 3 μm and

a numerical aperture of 0.1 at a wavelength of 0.8 μm.
The condition for the single mode operation is given by the V
number of the fiber which is defined as such that V ≤ 2.405.
Here, n1 = refractive index of the core; a = radius of the core; λ
= wavelength of the light propagating through the fiber; Δ =
relative refractive indices difference.

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Exercise (1) : Find the core radius necessary for

single mode operation at 850 nmof step index fiber
with n1 = 1.480 and n2 = 1.465.
Hint: V – number = 2.405 ( for single mode fiber)

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Multimode fiber, the first to be manufactured and

commercialized, simply refers to the fact that numerous
modes or light rays are carried simultaneously through the
waveguide. Modes result from the fact that light will only
propagate in the fiber core at discrete angles within the cone
of acceptance. This fiber type has a much larger core
diameter, compared to single-mode fiber, allowing for the
larger number of modes, and multimode fiber is easier to
couple than single-mode optical fiber. Because the core’s
index of refraction is higher than the cladding’s index of
refraction, the light that enters at less than the critical angle
is guided along the fiber.

Some of the basic properties of multimode optical

fibers are listed below :
• More than one path is available
• V-number is greater than 2.405

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A common misconception regarding the propagation of light is that a

dispersed beam of light splits up into an infinite number of angles and
propagates through an infinite number of paths as it travels from one
point to another. Let's apply this fault thinking to a fiber optic cable.
We could mistakenly conclude that when an LED light source produces
a pulse of light that the light enters the fiber optic cable at an infinite
number of angles and propagates down the cable using an infinite
number of paths. This is not true. Light travels down a finite number of
'paths'. When a light source is dispersed there are a finite number of
'rays' of light produced. These paths are called MODES.
When we construct a fiber optic cable with a core diameter large
enough so that light entering one end will be able to find multiple
paths through the cable we say that the cable is a MULTIMODE cable.
There are multiple paths (modes) by which a light 'ray' may be
propagated. For a fiber with a core diameter of 62.5 microns (a
standard size) a light with a wavelength of 1300 nanometers (a
standard wavelength) will find roughly 228 modes for propagation.

Solved Problem (1) : Calculate the V – number and number

of modes propagating through the fiber having a = 50 μm,
n1 = 1. 53, n2 = 1.50 and λ = 1μm.
n1 = 1.53 ; n2 = 1.50; λ = 1μm.

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Optical fibers based on refractive index profile :

Based on the refractive index profile of the core and cladding, the
optical fibers are classified into two types:
(1) Step index fiber (2) Graded index fiber.
Step index fiber :
In a step index fiber, the refractive index changes in a step
fashion, from the centre of the fiber, the core, to the outer
shell, the cladding.
It is high in the core and lower in the cladding. The light in
the fiber propagates by bouncing back and forth from core-
cladding interface.
The step index fibers propagate both single and multimode
signals within the fiber core.
The light rays propagating through it are in the form of
meridinal rays which will cross the fiber core axis during
every reflection at the core – cladding boundary and are
propagating in a zig – zag manner.

Step index single mode fibers :

 The light energy in a single-mode fiber is concentrated in one mode
only.
 This is accomplished by reducing  and or the core diameter to a
point where the V is less than 2.4.
 In other words, the fiber is designed to have a V number between 0
and 2.4.
 This relatively small value means that the fiber radius and , the
relative refractive index difference, must be small.
 No intermodal dispersion exists in single mode fibers because only
one mode exists.
 With careful choice of material, dimensions and , the total
dispersion can be made extremely small, less than 0.1 ps /(km  nm),
making this fiber suitable for use with high data rates.
 In a single-mode fiber, a part of the light propagates in the cladding.
 The cladding is thick and has low loss.
 Typically, for a core diameter of 10 m, the cladding diameter is
about 120 m.
 Handling and manufacturing of single mode step index fiber is more
difficult.

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Step index multimode fibers :

A multimode step index fiber is shown.
In such fibers light propagates in many modes.
The total number of modes MN increases with increase in the numerical
aperture.
For a larger number of modes, MN can be approximated by

where d = diameter of the core of the fiber and V = V number or normalized frequency.

The core diameter of the typical multimode fiber varies between 50 m and about
200 m, with cladding thickness typically equal to the core radius.

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Graded index fibers :

 A graded index fiber is shown in next figure. Here, the
refractive index n in the core varies as we move away from the
center.
 The refractive index of the core is made to vary in the form of
parabolic manner such that the maximum refractive index is
present at the center of the core.
 The refractive index (n) profile with reference to the radial
distance (r) is shown in the figure.
 The number of modes in a graded-index fiber is about half that in a
similar step-index fiber, V2
MN 
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 The size of the graded-index fiber is about the same as the
step-index fiber. The manufacture of graded-index fiber is more
complex. It is more difficult to control the refractive index well
enough to produce accurately the variations needed for the
desired index profile.

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