High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory

Optoelectronics and Photonics

Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
v
g
(m/s)
(1/s)
TE
1
TE
2
2.0810
8
2.0710
8
2.0610
8
2.0510
8
0
110
15
210
15
310
15

cut-off
= 2.310
14
c/n
2
c/n
1
d=10m n
1
=1.455
n
2
=1.440
n
2
Modal (or intermodal)
dispersion:
Waveguide can support
several modes having
different values of v
g
Solution: Use single
mode waveguide
Group velocity depends on
Frequency: intramodal dispersion
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
Dispersion in single-mode waveguide:
Group velocity depends on frequency.
Limitation on data rate and transmission distance.
t
Intensity
Spectrum
Intensity
f
t
Spread
Intensity
Dispersive SMF
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
n
500 700 900 11001300150017001900
1.44
1.45
1.46
1.47
1.48
1.49
Wavelength (nm)
Refractive Index for Silica
- Material (or chromatic) dispersion
Refractive index of any material
depends on frequency
(wavelength)
v
g
depends on frequency
(wavelength)
Why does single mode waveguide
have dispersion?
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
Waveguide dispersion
Even if refractive index
does not change,
v
g
depends on
frequency (wavelength)
d n
1
n
2
n
2
Why does single mode waveguide
have dispersion?
2
y
d
X k =
2
d
Y =
2

2
2 2 2 2 2
0 1 2
( )
2
d
X Y k n n

+ =


tan Y X X =
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
Waveguide dispersion
Even if refractive index
does not change,
v
g
depends on
frequency (wavelength)
d=10m n
1
=1.455
n
2
=1.440
n
2
v
g
(m/s)
(1/s)
TE
1
2.0810
8
2.0710
8
2.0610
8
2.0510
8
0
110
15
210
15
310
15
14
c/n
2
c/n
1
Why does single mode waveguide
have dispersion?
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
Dispersion coefficient, D, for silica fiber with a=4.2m
D
m
: material (chromatic) dispersion only
D
w
: waveguide dispersion only
D
m
+D
w
: total dispersion
0
1.2
1.3 1.4 1.5
1.6
1.1
-30
20
30
10
-20
-10
(m)
D
m
D
m
+ D
w
D
w

0
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
20
-10
-20
-30
10
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5
1.6
1.7
0
30
(m)
D
m
D
w
D
ch
= D
m
+D
w

1

2
n
r
Thin layer of cladding
with a depressed index
D
It is possible to control D by changing waveguide structure
(Dispersion Flattened Fiber)
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
How do we model dispersion
0
0
0
2
2
0 0
2
2
0 1 0 2 0
2
0
0
1
( ) ( )
2
1
( ) ( ) ( )
2
1 1 1
= ( )
( ) 2
==>Dispersion exists if is not not linear with
In Silica
g g
v v

+ = + + +

+ +

+ +

i i
i i
i i
2
2
2
fiber, 20 ps /km at =1.5 m
(With 0, increases as increases)
g
v

<

High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
Often, dispersion parameter D is used.
( )
1 1
2
2
2
2
2 2
Since ,
2
ps
at 1.5 , D 16
kmnm
D
kc c c
D c m

= =

= = =

= =

i
t
Intensity
t
Spread ()
Intensity
Dispersive medium (L,D)
Spectrum ()
Intensity

D L i i
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
1 2 1 2
1 2
1 2
1
1 2 1
1 2
For and ( - ),
,
1 1
( ) ( )
g g
g g
L L
v v
L L L LD
v v

=
= =

= = = = =

High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory

Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14:DispersioninOpticalFiber
What happens to a short pulse in a dispersive medium?
Gaussian input pulse
Dispersed pulse
Dispersive medium
(D>0)
High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory
Optoelectronics and Photonics
Lect.14: DispersioninOpticalFiber
Exercises:
Prob. 8, 9, 10, 14