Effects of Graded Order On The Characteristics of The Fundamental Mode in Optical Fibers

IPASJ International Journal of Electronics & Communication (IIJEC)
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ISSN 2321-5984
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Volume 3, Issue 6, June 2015
Effects of Graded Order on the Characteristics

of the Fundamental Mode in Optical Fibers
Muhammad. R .Harb*, Sadiq. J. Kadhim*, Hassan. A. Yasser*
* Physics Department, College of Science, Thi-Qar University
ABSTRACT
The properties of modes that propagate through the step index fiber were perfectly analyzed analytically in the literatures in
the last three decades. Moreover. The parabolic graded index fibers were also analyzed. The other graded index fibers had not a
complete description. In this paper, we are presented a novel solution based on the series solution method to enhance the
related topics. Our results present that the graded order may be played a central rule to quantify the reconstructed modes.
Keywords: graded order, confinement factor, modes.
1. INTRODUCTION
Understanding optical fibers requires a knowledge of dielectric waveguides and their modes. The concept of modes is
fundamental for all wave phenomena in physics like optics. In optics and photonics, the concept of modes is well suited
to describe propagation and dispersion. The modes are solutions for the propagation of the light. Modes are one of the
most important characteristics used to distinguish types of fiber and the number of potential paths light can take
through it. It may seem that light would go straight through the fiber core, following all of its curves, until it comes out
the other end. However, the light itself is a complex combination of electrical and magnetic waves [1]. The analysis of
an fiber modes bases on solving Maxwell's equation can only be carried out rigorously if the core refractive index is
uniform, that is, for step-index fiber. The treatment of graded index fiber requires more difficult mathematics to
describe the characteristics.
Graded index fibers were analyzed numerically with finite difference method [2], matrix methods [3], beam
propagation method [4], etc. To study the propagation characteristics, there are various methods such as: Finite
difference methods, and beam propagation method includes complex algorithms; furthermore, where these are
imprecise as one approaches cut-off region. Matrix methods are problematic for profiles with sharp index difference.
The analytic methods include complex algebraic calculations followed by some computation; due to approximations of
these methods are not accurate [5].
In this paper, the differential equation of the radial component is solved using the general power series method for
integer values of the graded order. Our general solution is reduced to the well known formulas for the step-index fiber
and parabolic graded fiber. Moreover, the characteristic equation for the general case is presented which, in turn, is
reduced to the familiar equations for the special profiles. Also, the confinement factor will be deduced using the
suggested series solution to determine its relation with the graded order.
2.BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Propagation of light in optical fibers is described by Maxwell equations, similarly to all other electromagnetic
phenomena. The wave equation derived from Maxwell equations describes propagation of light in optical fiber. If we
make the following assumptions: 1) nonlinear polarization and dispersion are negligible, and 2) one can neglects the
imaginary component of dielectric constant ( ) (n( ) ic / 2 ) 2 , is the attenuation, because the loss in optical
fiber is low in spectrum range of interest for fiber optics techniques. The well known Helmholtz equation takes the form
[6]
~
~
2 E n 2 ()ko2 E 0
(1)
~ ~
where n(w) is the refractive index, E E(r , ) is Fourier transform for of electric field
E( r , t )
1
2
E( r , ) e
it
(2)
is the Laplacian operator that takes the following form in cylindrical coordinates
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ISSN 2321-5984
2 1 1 2 2
r 2 r r r 2 2 z 2
(3)
Similar relations exist for the magnetic field H(r , t ) . As E and H have six components and only two components out
~
~
~ ~ ~
six are independent. It is customary to choose E z and H z as the independent components and express E , E , H
~
~
~
~
and H in terms of E z and H z . The wave equation in cylindrical coordinates for the electric field E z component
along the fiber axis is given by [7,8,9]
~
~
~
~
2 Ez 1 Ez 1 2 Ez 2Ez 2
~
2
2 n (r)ko2 Ez 0
(4)
2
2
r r r
r
z
~
~
The wave equation for E z is easily solved using the method of separation of variables. The solution for E z in
cylindrical coordinates, is given by
~
Ez (r)()Z(z)
(5)
Substituting Eq.(5) into (4), the radial component will be
d2
d
ko2n2(r) 2 r2 2 0
dr
dr
Eq.(6) may be normalized using the assumption R r / a , to yield
r2
1 d 2(R)
1 d(R) 1 2
(R) n2ko2(R) 2(R) 0

a2 dR2
a2R dR a2 R2
which may be further simplified to get
d 2
(6)
(7)
1 d 2 2
2
2
2
a
n
(
R
)
k
(8)
0
o
dR2 R dR
R 2
Here n(R) is the refractive index distribution in the fiber, is the propagation constant, is a parameter coming
from the azimuthal part after separation of variables, and is any transverse field component either E -field or H -
field.
3.PRESENT MANAGEMENTS
In fiber with graded index core, n(R) falls from n1 the refractive index value on the axis of the fiber to n2 the
refractive index value at the core-cladding interface. The formal definition of this refractive index may be expressed as
[10,11]
n(R) n12 n12 n22 f (R) n1 1 2Rq

where
(9)
f ( R) R q (r / a) q is called the profile function , r is the radial distance from the fiber axis, a is the core
radius, n1 is the refractive index at the core axis, n 2 is the refractive index of the cladding. The power or exponent
q of R controls the profile shape and is very important in fibers allowing more than one mode to propagate, which will
be called the graded order. It controls numerical aperture, intermodal dispersion, zero dispersion wavelength etc, in
multimode fibers. The index difference for the graded index fiber is given by [12]
n2 n 2 n n
1 2 2 1 2
(10)
n1
2n1
Eq.(8) can be reformed to explain
d 2 1 d 2
2
2
V
f
(
R
)
0
dR2 R dR
R2
(11)
where
U a ko2n12 2
(12)
V ako n12 n22
(13)
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ISSN 2321-5984
The last equations represent the normalized frequency and the normalized propagation constant, respectively. Eq.(11)
has two linearly indepent solutions. For particular , the solutions are denoted as LPm . The mode with highest is
the fundamental mode.
Using power series technique the solution of Eq.(11) in the core region can be expanded in the following from:
core(R)
a R
(14)
n0
As in the solution of Bessel's equation, we take a0 0 , and a1 0 . For any q , a0 1 (2 !) . Here we used the same
normalization factor used in the solutions of Bessel's equation, because for q , the series must converge to Bessel
function.
Using the first and second derivatives of Eq.(14) into (11), yields,
2
an n n 1Rn2 an n Rn2 U 2 V 2 Rq 2 an Rn 0
(15)
R n0
n0
n0
Eq.(15) may be reformed to explain
a n2 nR
n2
U 2
n0
n2 R
n2
V 2
n2
n2q R
n2
(16)
n2q
Using Eq.(16), the recursion relations for parameters will be

U 2a
n2
if n q 1
n(2 n)
an
2
2
U an 2 V an 2 q
if n q
n(2 n)
(17)
Note that, our series solution can be extracted only for integer values of q , while the other values may be deduced
through the simulations. For even q all the odd coefficients are zero. For odd q , the odd coefficients are zero up to
n q ; all the coefficients are non-zero for n q . For step index fiber q , Eq.(17) will be
an
U 2an2
n2 n
(18)
In turn, the series solution for this case will be the well known relation [13]
core(R)
a R
J (UR)
(19)
n0
For the special case, q 2 , the series solution will be Laguerre polynomials as follows [9]
core(R)
2
e 2 Lm1 ( 2 )
(20)
when R V , m is the radial mode number and

Ln ( 2 )
n !(1) s 2s
s !n s !s!
(21)
s 0
is the generalized Laguerre polynomial when for convenience the substitution n m 1 has been mode.
For other index profiles, the radial function takes the from
q1
U 2 an2 n U 2 an2 V 2 an2q n
R
core( R) a0 R
R
(22)
n(2 n)
2(2 n)
n2
q2
The determination of radial function of each index profile is very important to explain the spot size w that will control
the confinement factor .
Within the core, one has to find the solution of Eq.(11) with f ( R) R q . In the cladding, f (R) 1 , so Eq.(11) will be
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ISSN 2321-5984

d 2
dR2
1 d 2
2
U V 2 2 0
R dR
R
(23)
The normalized propagation constant in cladding is defined as
W a 2 ko2n22
(24)
So
V 2 U2 W2
(25)
The normalized propagation constant is defined as
W2
(26)
V2
Substituting Eq.(25) into (23), yields
d 2
1 d 2 2
W 2 0
dR2 R dR
R
In the cladding region, the refraction index is constant, so Eq.(11) will has the general solution
(27)
clad (RW)
(28)
where (RW) is the standard modified Bessel function. For q , in order to calculate the mode distributions it is
necessary to determine the values of . This may be achieved by matching the tangential field components at the
core/cladding ( R 1) interface, resulting in the following characteristic equation [9,14]
J 1 (U )
(W )
W 1
J (U )
(W )
(29)
The required values of are corresponding to the crossing points of the curves of Eq.(29) and U 2 V 2 W 2 .
In our general case, when q 1, 2,3, , the characteristic equation takes the form
( R)
core
(W ) W 1 (W )

(30)
core ( R)
(W )
The confinement factor of graded index fiber will be estimated as
b
Rq rdr
0
a
Rq1
(31)
rdr R2 rdr
a
Rq is the radial distribution in the core, which may be Bessel functions, Laguerre functions, or general distribution,
and R 2 is the modified Bessel function. Note that, the confinement factor is determined analytically in the step index
2
fiber, which may be approximated by 1 e b w where b is the normalized propagation constant and w is the
spot size, but our analysis take the general formula represented by Eq.(31), such that the confinement factor will be
computed using the numerical management.
4.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Our simulations are based on the determination of series solution of the radial distribution of the field, where Eq.(22)
was used to calculate this radial distribution, Eq.(30) was used to explain the modes characteristics, and Eq.(31) was
solved numerically to determine the confinement factor.
4.1Radial Field Distributions
Fig.(1) shows the radial distribution of the field for the fundamental mode in different graded order ( q ). It is clear that
the different cases have a semi-Gaussian distribution with different widths. Generally, the different fundamental modes
that corresponds to different graded order have a maximum peak at the mode center. The distribution width is different
depending on the graded order. The intensity at the fiber center has the same value, whereas for q 1 , the field
penetrates more into the cladding from q . Also, it can be concluded that as the value of q increases the radial
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ISSN 2321-5984
fields fall more rapidly inside the core for lower values of q . The curves are found to spread outward in the cladding
region as q value decreases.
Fig.(1): Radial field distributions for different graded order.

4.2Cut-off Frequency
Fig.(2) shows the normalized propagation constant (b) as a function of V for different values of graded order (q ) for
the fundamental modes. The cutoff value of V for single mode operation in a fiber with a graded refractive index
profile that follows Eq.(9) is different from the 2.405 value used for step index fiber. For a parabolic index fiber
( q 2 ), the cutoff value is 3.53; for a triangular index profile ( q 1 ), it is 4.38. An estimate of the cutoff value of V
for fundamental mode propagation is given by [15]
V 2.405 1 (2 / q)
(32)
If other parameters are the same, the core diameter of the graded index single mode fiber can be a factor of 1 ( 2 / q )
larger than the equivalent step index fiber. A parabolic index fiber ( q 2 ) provides an improvement by a factor of
2 , the triangular profile fiber ( q 1 ) provides a 3 improvement.

It may be observed that the cut-off value of V is coincided the approximated result in Eq.(32). Note that, the
characteristics curves of the modes are shifted to right by decreasing the graded order. That is, the cut-off frequency
will be decreased for the smaller values of graded order. The higher values of q leads gradually to the step index fiber
that has the minimum cut-off frequency. Note that for q is higher than 100, the profile will be step index. To get the
results for step index fiber with power series, is convert the series to Bessel function as in Eq.(17) by making
an 2q 0 , where the parameter b which varies between 0 and 1 is particularly useful in the theory of single mode
fiber because the relative index difference is very small.
Fig.(2): The normalized propagation constant (b) as a function V.
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ISSN 2321-5984
4.3Spot Size
Spot size is one of the important characteristics of graded index fiber as it can be used to determine some quantities like
substantial splice loss, and micro bending loss that is sensitive to fiber bend [16]. For single mode fibers, the mode
radius may be estimated from the V number for various values of graded order as in Fig.(3). This shows that the
normalized spot size and graded order decreases greater with V . As the V value approaches 2.4 the spot size (w) is
equal to or slightly greater than the core radius (a ) for various q . For V 2 the spot size is significantly larger than
the core size for each the values of q , and therefore that part of the beam is reflected in cladding.
Fig.(3): Variation of normalized spot size as function of the normalized frequency.

4.4Confinement Factor
The optical confinement factor () is the fraction of the total power residing in the core. Fig.(4) shows the confinement
factor for single mode fiber at wavelength ( ) from (1400 1600)nm as a function of the graded order. It is clear that
the confinement factor increases by increases the graded order. The confinement factor will tend to be constant for the
higher q . Moreover, the higher wavelengths have the lower curves.
Fig.(5) shows the confinement factor at different values of q , and V as a function of wavelength. Note that the
decreases with wavelength but increases with q , and V . Although nearly 85% of the mode power resides in the
core for V 2.3046 , this percentage drop for V 1.6462 , at all values of the q . For this reason most single mode fibers
are designed to operate in the range 2 V 2.405 .
Fig.(4): Variation confinement factor as a function of the graded order.
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ISSN 2321-5984
Fig.(5): Variation confinement factor as a function of the wavelength.
5. CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the higher graded order has the smaller cut-off frequency and the best confinement values. The higher
graded order exhibits the larger mode field diameter. The confinement factor for lower graded order is the smaller.
REFERENCES
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[8]. R. Hui, and M. O'Sullivan, "Fiber Optic Measurement Techniques", Elsevier Academic Press, 2009.
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Effects of Graded Order On The Characteristics of The Fundamental Mode in Optical Fibers

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IPASJ International Journal of Electronics & Communication (IIJEC)

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEC/IIJEC.htm

A Publisher for Research Motivation........

Volume 3, Issue 6, June 2015