PHY110 UNIT III: Fiber optics

LECTURE 3

Prof. Reji Thomas DRD-DRC March 7, 2023

Revision
Fiber- Thin strand of dielectric material (transmission of light)
Wire: The strand of metal (transmission of electricity)

Laser diode: Forward biased

Photo diode: Reverse biased? n1 > n2
Laser diode/LED Photo diode
AIR
n1
AIR

OPTICAL FIBER SYSTEM

“Fiber optics is a technology in which electrical signal is

converted to optical signals and transmitted through fibers and
reconverted back into electrical signals”
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
Optical Fiber: Structure Human hair thickness ~ 100µm

1. Core - Light guiding region

2. Cladding- confine the light to the core
3. Buffer or Sheath - protect the fiber from
physical and environmental damage
Additional functions of cladding
 To maintain the uniformity along the length of the fiber
 To protect the outer surface of the core
 To reduce the cone of the light

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

4

TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION happens when a ray light

pass from the denser medium to rarer medium:

n2

n1

TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION

Critical angle  > c
Snell’s law

Principle on which Fiber optic communication rely on is TOTAL

INTERNAL REFLECTION
5

imax is the acceptance angle of the fiber.

2imax = acceptance cone

 Relative Refractive Index
  is always positive because n1 > n2.
 Typically value of  is the order of 0.01
 For effective light transmission through the fiber, <<1.

Numerical Aperture (NA)

• Measure of the light gathering ability of
the fiber
• Depends only on the refractive indices of
the core and cladding.
• Independent of the dimension of the fiber
• Typical values are in the range 0.13 to 0.50
7

If n1, n2 and n0 are the refractive indices of core, cladding and

medium from which the light is launched into the core, the value
of numerical aperture can exceed 1 when
NA= 𝑛𝑜 sin 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑥
a) n0 =1
b) n0 > 1
c) n0 < 1
d) n2 > n1

Ans: B
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
 Classification of Optical Fibers

8
1. The material from which it is made
i. Glass optical fibers
ii. Plastic Optical fibers
iii. Plastic Clad Silica (PCS) optical fibers
2. The propagation modes through it
i. Single mode optical fibers
ii. Multimode optical fibers
3. The refractive index profile of the material used
i. Step-index optical fibers
ii. Graded index optical fibers
4. the modes and refractive index profile
i. Step-index single mode(SISM) optical fiber
ii. Step index multimode (SIMM) optical fiber
iii. ??? GISM
iv. Graded-index multimode (GIMM) optical fiber

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

9

In single mode fibre the diameter of the core is nearly equal to

a) 10 m
b) 100 m
c) 50 m
d) 125 m

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
V-number
Maximum number of modes Nm supported by a fiber having diameter d for a
particular wavelength  is
Step index fiber Graded Index fiber

For a fiber to be single mode V < 2.4.

and the wavelength with which the fiber becomes single mode is called cutoff
wavelength c

Single mode for any wavelength  > c

Single mode transmission in a multimode fiber can be realized by

reducing the diameter and/or decreasing the  such that V< 2.405
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
11

Carrier wave used in fibre optical communication is

a) Radio waves
b) Ordinary light waves
c) Microwaves
d) LASER light

Ans: D
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
 Quick Quiz Response on the 3/03/2023 Lecture

No Question Attempts Right Wrong

1 How does the refractive index of the core
vary in Graded Index fiber?
2 How does the refractive index of the core
vary in step Index fiber?
3 Possible number of allowed paths of light in
the optical fiber is called modes of
propagation. State true or false

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

13

How does the refractive index of the core vary in Graded

Index fiber?

a) Tangentially
b) Radially
c) Longitudinally
d) Transversely
Ans: B

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

14

How does the refractive index of the core vary in step

Index fiber?

a) Tangentially
b) Radially
c) Longitudinally
d) No variation
Ans: D

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

15

Possible number of allowed paths of light in the optical fiber

is called modes of propagation. State true or false

a) True
b) False

Ans: A

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

 Fiber optics

Lecture 1: 1/03/23 Fiber optics introduction, optical fibers, optical fiber as a

dielectric wave guide, Total internal reflection
Lecture 2: 3/03/23, Acceptance angle, relative refractive index, numerical
aperture, Classification of fibers, Step index and graded index fibers,
V-number, and modes of propagation
Learned the fundamentals of optical fiber, the fundamental parameters of optical
fibers and propagation of light through optical fiber, learned about
the types of fibers

Lecture 3: 7/03/23; Losses associated with optical fibers; learn the reason for
data loss
Lecture 4: 10/03/23 Application of optical fibers in computer networking and
broadcasting

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

 Losses and Dispersion in optical fibers
When the optical signal is made to propagate through the optical
fiber, signal strength reduces and shape of the wave changes due to
1a. Attenuation Intrinsic
a) Absorption loss/attenuation
b) Scattering

1b. Radiative loss Extrinsic

Bending of optical fiber loss/attenuation

2. Dispersion
a) Intermode
b) Intramode
i. Material dispersion
ii. Waveguide dispersion
 Loss of amplitude of the signal: attenuation
 Change in shape of the signal: Distortion/dispersion

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

 LOSSES IN OPTICAL FIBERS
18

ATTENUATION
The loss of signal amplitude is known as attenuation
The loss of optical power as light travels down the fiber exponentially
depends on the distance

Po is the power at distance L, Pi input power and  is the fiber

attenuation constant expressed in /km

In unit of dB/km, is defined as,

In ideal case, Pi = Po and attenuation is zero

 LOSSES IN OPTICAL FIBERS
19

1. Losses due to Attenuation

a) Material absorption
 Imperfection and impurities in the fiber account for 3-5 % loss
 OH- common impurity-
 Due to water trapped during the manufacturing process or Humidity from
the atmosphere
 Cu, Ni,Cr,V, Mn impurities in glass absorb visible wavelength

 Electronic absorption at UV and vibrational absorption at IR wavelengths are

un avoidable
 Absorption found to be minimum around the wavelength 1.3 µm (1300 nm)
 Propagation of light with wavelength above 1.7 µm or 1700nm is not possible
due to infrared (IR) absorption
 LOSSES IN OPTICAL FIBERS
20

1. Losses due to Attenuation

b) Rayleigh scattering

 Account for the 96% of attenuation in the fiber

 Microscopic density variation causes changes in
refractive index locally in the fiber
 These obstructions act as scattering centers and
scatter light in all direction- Rayleigh scattering
 It varies as 1/4 – high at lower wavelength
 Lower wavelength limit is 800 nm (0.8 µm)

Material absorption set the upper wavelength limit at 1700 nm

and Rayleigh scattering set the lower wavelength limit at 800
nm. So light having wavelength in the range 800-1700 nm is
used in optical communication!
 LOSSES IN OPTICAL FIBERS
21

800-1700nm is used in optical communication

1. Losses due to Attenuation

 nm loss dB/km
820-880 2.2
1220-1320 0.6
1550-1610 0.2

 The band of wavelength at which the attenuation is a minimum is

called optical window or transmission window or low-loss window
 The range 1550-1610 is most preferable
 1300 nm is suitable as the dispersion is minimum
 LOSSES IN OPTICAL FIBERS
22

2. Losses due to bending of Optical fiber

a) Macrobend
Fiber is bend in noticeable way and strain
induced ‘n’ change TIR conditions and light
escape

b) Microbend

 Small scale local bend on the fiber

 Not clearly visible
 Indicative of pressure on the fiber
 Light refracted into the cladding as TIR
condition get changed
23

What causes microscopic bend?

a) Uniform pressure
b) Non-uniform volume
c) Uniform volume
d) Non-uniform pressure

Ans: D
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
24

The loss in signal power as light travels down a fiber is called

a. Dispersion
b. Scattering
c. Absorption
d. Attenuation

Ans: D
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
25

Which range of wavelength is most preferable for the

transmission light through optical fiber with minimum loss??

a) 820-880 nm
b) 1220-1320 nm
c) 1550-1610nm
d) None of the above

Ans: C
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
26

Which range of wavelength used in optical communication?

a) 800-1700 nm
b) 1700-2500 nm
c) 200-800 nm
d) None of the above

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx07PShjJmk
DISPERSION
27Rainbow and Splitting of white light to spectrum of colours are the most
familiar example of dispersion

Due to the wavelength () dependence of refractive index (n)

𝑑𝑛
= 0 No dispersion
𝑑
𝑑𝑛
< 0 Normal dispersion
𝑑
𝑑𝑛
> 0 Anomalous dispersion
𝑑

However, dispersion in optical fibres is due to the group velocity (Vg)

dispersion and that causes pulses to spread and consequently this distortion
degrades the signals over long distances. 𝑐
𝑉𝑝 =
𝑛
𝑉𝑔 = 𝑉𝑝 No dispersion
𝑉𝑔 < 𝑉𝑝 Normal dispersion
𝑉𝑔 > 𝑉𝑝 Anomalous dispersion
 DISPERSION
28

Distortion of the signal in an

optical fiber due to DISPERSION

a) Intermodal Dispersion
b) Intramodel Dispersion
i. Material dispersion
ii. Waveguide dispersion
 DISPERSION

29

a) Intermodal Dispersion

• Input power divided into various modes and propagate

through the fiber
• Lower order modes take less time compared to higher
modes

• Pulse broadens and hence reduces transmission rate

• Can be reduced in Graded index fiber
 DISPERSION
30

b) Intramodal Dispersion
b.1 Material dispersion
b.2 Waveguide dispersion
Material dispersion is a
wavelength dependence of
the fiber material refractive index.

 Light pulse is a wave packet, having components of several wavelengths..

 Glass dispersive medium.. Different wavelength component travel at
different speed..
 Pulse broadening occurs as a result
 Material dispersion can be reduced by reducing the spectral width or by
increasing the wavelength
 DISPERSION
31

b) Intramodal Dispersion
b.1 Material dispersion
b.2 Waveguide dispersion

• Refractive index variation along the waveguide means different

speed for different wavelength
• Also results is pulse broadening

 SMF- Only material and waveguide dispersions (only

intramodal dispersion) exist
 MMF- intermodel, waveguide and material dispersion ( both
intramodal and intermodal dispersion) exist
32

A single mode step index (SMSI) fiber has low intermodal

dispersion than the corresponding multimode. True or false?

a) True
b) False

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
33

Which of the following has more distortion?

a) Single mode step-index fiber

b) Graded index fiber
c) Multimode step-index fiber
d) Glass fiber

Ans: C
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
34

In which of the following there is no distortion?

a) Graded index fiber

b) Multimode step-index fiber
c) Single step-index fiber
d) Glass fiber

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
35

When more than one mode is propagating, how is it dispersed?

a) Intra-modal dispersion
b) Inter-modal dispersion
c) Material dispersion
d) Waveguide dispersion

Ans: B
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023
 Fiber optics

Lecture 1: 1/03/23 Fiber optics introduction, optical fibers, optical fiber as

a dielectric wave guide, Total internal reflection
Lecture 2: 3/03/23, Acceptance angle, relative refractive index,
numerical aperture, Classification of fibers, Step index and
graded index fibers, V-number, and modes of propagation
Learned the fundamentals of optical fiber, the fundamental parameters of
optical fibers and propagation of light through optical fiber,
learned about the types of fibers
Lecture 3: 7/03/23; Losses associated with optical fibers; learn the reason
for data loss

Lecture 4: 10/03/23 Application of optical fibers

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023

37

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD March 7, 2023