Fiber Optics

Objective:-

To understand the fundamental of optical fibers and analogue optical fiber

communication.

Apparatus:-

1. LAB Basic fiber optic design trainer kit

2. DMM
3. Fiber Optical wires
4. In-line adaptor.

Theory:-

 WHAT IS FIBER OPTICAS?

Individual optical fibers are used in virtually all communications applications and
for many other purposes. Each fiber is optically separate from other fibers, although
many separate fibers may be housed in a common cable. Most fibers are made of
glass, plastic, or plastic clad glass, some special fibers are made of other materials,
such as exotic fluoride compounds. Standard fibers are often compared to human
hairs, but whoever thought of that comparison must have had some very stiff hairs
or very thin plastic fibers. Communication fibers are stiffer than ever a man’s coarse
beard hair of the same length. A better comparison would be to monofilament
fishing line. Unlike wires, fibers spring back to their original straight form after
being bent.

LIGHT TRANSMISSION:-

The crucial operating difference between a fiber optic communication system and other
types is that signals are transmitted as light. Conventional electronic communication relies on
electrons passing through wires. Radio frequency and microwave communication (including
satellite links) rely on radio waves and micro waves traveling through open space.
 Different media are suited for different communication jobs. The choice depends on the
job and the nature of the transmission medium. One important factor is how signals are to be
distributed. If the same signal is to be sent from one point to many people in an area as in broadcast
television or radio the best choice may be no directional radio transmission. Radio frequency
communication is the best way to avoid cables for cellular phones and to reach remote places like
tropical islands or arctic bases. On the other hand a cable system is preferable for making physics
links among many fixed points, as in telephone and cable television network. Cable is also useful
for permanent connections between two fixed points. Some types of transmission are shown in
figure below.
 EXPERIMENT NO:-1

OBJECTIVE:-

To find the numerical aperture of given sample.

BASIC DEFINITIONS:

Numerical aperture of any optical system is measure of how much light can be collected
by the optical system. It is the product of the refractive index of the incident medium and the sine
of the maximum ray angle.

𝑵𝑨 = 𝒏𝒊. 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝒎𝒂𝒙 : 𝑵𝒊𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝟏, 𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑵𝑨 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝒎𝒂𝒙

For a step-index FIBER, as in the present case, the numerical aperture is given by

𝑵 = √(𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝟐 − 𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝟐 )

For very small differences in refractive indices the equation reduces to

𝑵𝑨 = 𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒆 √(𝟐∆),
Where,

∆ 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔.

The fiber may refer to the specifications of the PMMA FIBER given and record the
manufacture’s NA 𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝜽.
PROCEDURE:-

1. Connect one end of the cable 1(1-meter FO cable) to FO LED in the FIBER optic LED
driver section of FO1 and the other end to the NA jig, as shown in figure
2. Switch on the trainer. Light should appear at the end of the FIRBER on the NA jig. Turn
the SET Pout knob clockwise to set to maximum Po. The light intensity should increase.
3. Hold the white screen with the concentric circles (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mm diameter)
vertically at a suitable distance to make the red spot from the emitting FIBER coincide with
the 10 mm circle. Note that the circumference of the spot (outermost) must coincide with
the circle. A dark room will facilitate good contrast. Record “L” the distance of the screen
from the fiber end and note the diameter of the spot. You may measure the diameter of the
circle accurately with a suitable scale.
4. Compute NA from the formula.

𝒘
𝑵𝑨 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟏
(𝟒𝑳𝟐 + 𝑾𝟐 )𝟐

Tabulate the reading and repeat the for 15mm, 20mm and 25mm diameters too.
 5. In case the FIBER is under filled, the intensity within the spot may not be evenly
distributed. To ensure even distribution of light in the FIBER, first remove twists on the
FIBER and then wind 5 turns of the FIBER on to the mandrel as shown in fig. use an
adhesive tape to hold the windings in position. Now view the spot. The intensity will be
more evenly distributed within the core.

OBESRVATION TABLE:-

Sr.No W(Mm) L (Mm) Na 𝜽 (Degrees)

1 10

2 15

3 20

4 25
Calculation:-

𝑤
sin 𝜃 =
(4𝑙 + 𝑤 )

DISCUSSION

The numerical aperture as recorded in the manufacturer’s data sheet is 0.5 typically the
value measured here is 0.437. The lower reading recorded is mainly due to the FIBER being under
filled. The acceptance angle is given by 2𝜃 . the value of 52 degrees recorded in this is close to
the range of 55-60 degrees. The lower reading is again due to the FIBER being under filled.
 EXPERIMENT NO:-2

OBJECTIVES:-
To study various types of losses that, occur in optical FIBER s and measure the loss in db of two
optical FIBER patch cords.

BASIC DEFINITIONS:-
Attenuation in an optical FIBER is result of a number of effects. This aspect is well covered
in the books referred to. We will confine our study to attenuation in a FIBER due to macro bending
and estimate the losses in two patch cords. Preferably we will use patch cords of two different
lengths.

The loss as function of the length of the FIBER is measurable only when we use a meter
cable too in the experiments. FIBER loss variations with wavelength for the MMA FIBER under
consideration.

The optical power at a distance. L in an optical FIBER is given by

𝛂𝐋⁄𝟏𝟎)⁄𝐝𝐛
𝐏𝐋 = 𝐏𝐎 𝟏𝟎(
Where,

𝑃 is the launched power and

α is the attenuation coefficient in decibels per unit length?
“α” is the typical attenuation coefficient value for the FIBER under consideration here is
0.3db per meter at a wavelength of 660nm
.
Loss in FIBERs expressed in decibels is given by -10log (𝑃 /𝑃 ) where, Po is the launched
power and 𝑃 is power at the far end of the FIBER. Typical losses at connector junctions may vary
from 0.3dB to 0.5dB

Losses in FIBERs occur at FIBER-FIBER joints or splices due to axial displacement,

angular displacement, separation (airgap) mismatch of cores diameters. Mismatch of numerical
apertures, improper cleaving and polishing at the ends. The loss equation for a simple FIBER optic
link is given as:
 𝑷𝒊𝒏 (𝒅𝑩𝒎) − 𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕 (𝒅𝑩𝒎) = 𝑳𝑱𝟏 + 𝑳𝑭𝑰𝑩𝟏 + 𝑳𝑱𝟐 + 𝑳𝑭𝑰𝑩𝟐 + 𝑳𝑱𝟑 (𝒅𝑩)

𝐿 (𝑑𝐵) = the loss at the LED connector junction

𝐿 (𝑑𝐵) = The loss in cable 1.
𝐿 (𝑑𝐵) = The insertion loss at splice or in line adaptor
𝐿 (𝑑𝐵) = The loss in cable 2
𝐿 = The loss at the connector detector junction.
PROCEDURE:-
1. Connect one end of FO cable 1 (1-meter) to the FO LED on the FO LED port in the FIBER
optic LED driver section and the other end to the FO detector in the optical power section.
2. Set the DMM to the 2000mv rang. Connect the DMM Vdc to P1 and the DMM common
P2. Turn the DMM ON. The power meter is now ready for use.
3. Switch ON the Trainer. Connect the optical FIBER patch cord securely as shown. Fiber
relieving all twists and strains on the FIBER. Adjust the set 𝑃 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑏 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑃 to a
suitable value say.,
-15.0dBm (the DMM will read 150mv). Note this as 𝑃 .
4. wind one turn of the FIBER on the mandrel as shown in experiment-1 and note the new
reading of the power meter 𝑃 . now the loss due to bending and strain on the plastic FIBER
is 𝑃 − 𝑃 𝑑𝐵. for more accurate readout set the DMM to the 200.0mV range and take
the measurement. Typically the loss due to the strain and bending the FIBE is 0.3 to 0.8
dB.
5. Note the reading 𝑃 for cable 1. Repeat the measurement with the cable 2. And note the
reading𝑃 . Use the in-line SMA adaptor and connect he cables in series as shown. Note
measurement 𝑃 .

𝐏𝟎𝟑 − 𝐏𝟎𝟏 Gives loss in the cable 2 + loss in IL

𝑷𝟎𝟑 − 𝑷𝟎𝟐 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝟏 + 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐋

Assuming a loss of 1.0dB in the in-line adaptor. We obtain the loss in each cable.
The experiment may be repeated in the higher sensitivity range of 200.mV.

OBSERVATION TABLE:-

Loss in Loss-in
Sr.
𝑷𝟎𝟏 (dBm) 𝑷𝟎𝟐 (dBm) 𝑷𝟎𝟑 (dBm) Cable-1 cable-2
No
(dBm) (dBm)

1 -15.0
2 -20.0
3 -25.0
4 -30.0
Calculation:-

1. Loss in cable 1
= 𝑃 − 𝑃 + 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐼𝐿

2. Loss in cable 2
= 𝑃 − 𝑃 + 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐼𝐿

DISCUSSION:

The reading is close to the recorded reading.

 Experiment-3

Objective:-

To study losses at FIBER junctions with an in line SMA-SMA adaptor by creating known
air gaps.

Basic definitions:-

In line adaptors mechanical components, with which two optical FIBER cables may be
connected in series. These find application in all FIBER optic systems. In-line adaptors without
air-gap facilitate low loss connectivity. The loss arising out of such a connector lay is limited to
0.5 to 1.0dB. A number of other mechanical connectorisation methods are available. However for
reliable. However for reliable permanent connections between one FIBER and another fusion
splices would be the solution.

Many FIBER optic communication systems require attenuators in the optical path to ensure
proper matching of signals between the source and the detector. In case of too large signal from
the transmitter, the receiver may get saturated. To facilitate adjustments of optical signal levels in
optical FIBER networks, attenuators are used. Attenuators are based on a variety of methods.
Variable attenuators are also essential FIBER optic accessories.

The simple and popular way to attenuate optical power at FIBE junctions is to create a
known (fixed or variable) air-gap at the junction. All the light exiting from the transmitting side is
not coupled to the receiving FIBER resulting in attenuation.

In the present experiment we shall be studying the loss difference arising out of a lateral
air gap created in the in-line adaptor.
Procedure:-

1. Mark one face of the hexagonal lock nut with a pen. Connect one end of the meter F cable
(designated as cable 1) to FO LED in the FIBER optic LED driver section, keeping the
connector with the marking on the hexagonal lock nut free. Connect one end of the 5m FO
cable (designated as cable 2) to FIBER optic detector in optical power meter section.
2. Next connect the free end of cable 1 (with the marking) to the in-line adaptor, by rotating
it. Connect the free end of cable 2 to the other side or the in-line adaptor tightly, but without
force.
3. Set the power meter to read a convenient value, say -20.0dBm….𝑃 .
4. Next loosen the lock nut with the marking by one turn.pul l the cables gently apart so as to
create an air gap in the ILA that corresponds to one thread of the connector (=0.7mm).
Note the meter reading as P2. Unwind another full thread of cable 1 and pull the cables
apart gently to create an air gap of 1.4mm. Note the meter reading as P3. Do not disturb
cable 2 position in the in-line adaptor.
5. The losses due to the air gaps are given by the P2-P1 and P3-P1 (in dB).
6. Repeat the experiment for other settings of optical power.

Observation Table:-

Loss for
P1 P2 Loss for 0.7mm P3
Sr.No 1..4mm
(dBm) (dBm) Air - gap (db) (dBm)
Air – gap (db)
1. -20.0

Calculation:

1. Loss in 0.7mm = 𝑃 − 𝑃

2. Loss in 1.4mm = 𝑃 − 𝑃
Result:-

DISCYSSION:

The readings for two air gaps are tabulated above. These do not correlate with theoretical
approximations for loss due to the air-gaps. The losses measured in these cases are much lower
than those expected because light is concentrated close to the axis, providing or better coupling
between the FIBERS and hence lower losses than expected. This experiment firstly demonstrates
the need to eliminate air-gaps at FIBER