8.

Fiber optics

Principal Types of Optical Fiber

8.1 Step-index fibers

Cladding typically pure silica C Core d doped d with ith germanium i t to i increase i index d Index difference referred to as delta in units of percent (typically ( yp y 0.3-1.0%) )

Tradeoff between coupling and bending losses Index discontinuity at core-clad core clad boundary

8.1 Step-index fibers

Meridional Rays

Skew Rays

8.1 Step-index fibers

For Corning SMF-28 optical fiber, nco=1.4504, nCL=1.4447 at 1550 nm NA = 0.13, Acceptance angle = 7.35 degrees

8.1 Step-index fibers

Helmholtz equation :

2U 1 U 1 2U 2 2 + + + n k0 U = 0 r 2 r r r 2 2
With a propagation constant

{n1k0 > > n2 k0 }

n2 a n1

Ez 0

8.1 Step-index fibers

kT

: transverse propagation constant : decay constant

8.1 Step-index fibers

Spatial (radial) distribution function

l=0

l=0

l=3

l=1

l=2

8.1 Step-index fibers

V parameter of fibers (Normalized frequency of fibers)

2 V = k0 a n12 n2 = k0 a NA

V parameter or Normalized frequency V-parameter

8.1 Step-index fibers

: Characteristic Equation

8.1 Step-index fibers

: Characteristic Equation

2 V = k0 a n12 n2

X 01

X 02 X 03

Fiber modes Linearly polarized modes

LPlm modes

8.1 Step-index fibers

Linearly polarized modes in fibers

LPlm modes
u (r )
2

LP01

u (r )

LP34

8.1 Step-index fibers

LPlm modes

8.1 Step-index fibers

(for low V)

8.1 Step-index fibers

8.1 Step-index fibers

If V >> 1; ;

8.1 Step-index fibers

8.2 Graded-index fibers

8.2 Graded-index fibers

Ray Propagation in Graded-Index Fibers

8.2 Graded-index fibers

If p = 2 (parabolic ( b li index-profile) i d fil )

Comparison : the number of modes

1-d Mirror Guide
M =2 d 0
For the mirror guide the number of modes is just the number of wavelengths that can fit. For dielectric guides it is the number that can fit but now limited by the angular cutoff characterized by the NA of the guide The V parameter characterizes the number of wavelengths that can fit across the core guiding region in a fiber.

1-d Dielectric Guide

M 2

d NA 0
2

2-d Mirror Guide

2d M 4
0

2-d Dielectric Guide

2d M NA 4 0

2-d Dielectric fiber (step-index)

a 4 2 M 2 V = 16 NA 0

(a = d / 2)

2-d dielectric fiber (graded-index) M 1 V 2 for p = 2 4

8.3 Attenuation and dispersion

Dispersion

Definitions
Group velocity Group delay Dispersion
vg =
1

1 = = c k
D=

Dispersion

Types of dispersion
D=
Modal dispersion: different modes propagate at different group velocities Material dispersion: the index of refraction of the medium changes with wavelength Waveguide dispersion: different wavelengths in a mode have different delays Polarization mode dispersion p : if waveguide g is birefringent g

Dispersion

Dispersion

Dispersion

Dispersion

Dispersion