Fiber Optic Theory and Testing

Objective

Understand Fiber Optic Basics

Understand Issues that Impact Fiber Optic
Link and Channel Performance
Understand How to Determine Installed Link
and Channel Performance.
Demonstrate Fiber Testing and
Troubleshooting

Optical Fiber

Uses light pulses instead of electrical signals

Core & Cladding are composed of glass
n1 of the core > n2 of the cladding
Core diameter defines fiber type
Cladding diameter = 125 m
Coating is UV curable urethane acrylate (2-Layers)
Coating diameter = 250 m

Optical Fiber Types

Single Mode

Multimode

The radius, r, and index of refraction, n1, of the core determines the number of modes
allowed to propagate:
Number of Modes (2ncorercore/)

STEP-INDEX MULTIMODE FIBER

GRADED-INDEX MULTIMODE FIBER

SINGLE-MODE FIBER

8-9

125

62.5

Single Mode

Lower
Cost

Very small core

Lower Attenuation

Higher Bandwidth

Inexpensive
Cable
Expensive
Splicing
Longer Distance
High
Capacity

Multi-mode

Higher

Cost
Very Large Core
Higher Attenuation
Lower Bandwidth

Expensive Cable
Inexpensive Splicing
Shorter Distance
Lower
Capacity

Transmission Sources

Fabry-Perot (FP) and Distributed Feedback (DFB) Lasers

Light Emitting Diodes (LED)

Used for singlemode: 1310 nm or 1550 nm

Narrow spectrum (can be less than 1 nm)
Narrow beam width (does not fill multimode fibers)
Highest power and fastest switching
Most expensive (especially DFB)
Wavelength

Used for multimode: 850 nm or 1300 nm

Wide beam width fills multimode fibers
Wider spectrum (typically 50 nm)
Inexpensive
Cannot modulate as fast as lasers

VCSELs

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser

Used for multimode at 850 and 1300 nm
Quite narrow spectrum
Narrow beam width (does not fill multimode fibers)
Much less expensive than FP or DFB lasers

Wavelength

Wavelength Windows Operation

Reference Point: Visible Light is between 450 and 650 nm
2.5

1st
Window

C - Band 1530 - 1560

L - Band 1565 - 1610

Window
th

3
C Band

Window
rd

Window
th
6
S Band

Window
th
5

Window
2

1.3

nd

Theoretical Minimum
Attenuation of Single Mode
Fiber

0.7

L Band

E Band
O Band

Attenuation (dB/Km)

1.9

0.1

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

Wavelength (nm)

Factors Affecting Optical Fiber

Performance

Factors Affecting Light Losses or Attenuation

Intrinsic
Bending Losses
Splice Losses

Factors Affecting Light Pulse Broadening (Bandwidth)

Chromatic Dispersion
Modal Dispersion
Polarization Mode Dispersion

Attenuation

Typical Attenuation for various types of optical fiber

Fiber Type

Single Mode

Multimode

850 nm

1310 nm

1550 nm

N/A

0.35 dB/km

0.25 dB/km

3.5 dB/km

1.0 dB/km

N/A

10

Sources of Attenuation

Intrinsic
Raleigh Scattering
Water Peak Absorption (except of zero water peak fiber)

Splice Loss
Fusion: core alignment
Mechanical: core alignment, dirt on end face, reflection
Mode Field Diameter in Single Mode Fibers
Numerical Aperture Mismatch in Multimode Fibers

11

Sources of Attenuation

Macrobending (Single Mode Fiber)

Bending radius ~ 2 15 mm
Affects long wavelengths first
Affected mostly by fiber design

12

Sources of Attenuation

Microbending (All Fiber)

Bending radius ~ radius of core
Can occur during optical fiber manufacturing process
Can be induced during installation due to point
pressures
Affects all wavelengths, but increases slightly with
wavelength
Order of Sensitivity (least to highest): SM, 62.5 , 50
Affected by Coating and Cable Design

13

Dispersion or Pulse Broadening

Chromatic Dispersion (Single Mode Fibers)

Laser output is distribution of wavelengths
Different wavelengths travel different speeds
Dispersion compensating fiber

14

Dispersion or Pulse Broadening

Polarization Mode Dispersion (Single Mode

Fibers)
Radially imperfect core
Causes delay in 1 of 2 Orthogonal Modes

15

Dispersion or Pulse Broadening

Modal Dispersion (Multi-mode Fibers)

Mode is quantum level in light pulse
Each mode occupies different area of core
Imperfect core structure causes modes to have
different speeds

16

17

Measuring Modal Dispersion

Over-Filled Launch (OFL)

Uses LED
Completely fills all modes of multimode fiber

Differential Modal Dispersion

Uses Laser
Injects pulses of light from one side of the core to the other at
micron intervals
Measures Pulse Intensity and Time of Arrival
Effective Modal Bandwidth (EFL) is determined from this test

18

Pessimistic result

Effects of Modal Dispersion

Over-filled launch = over estimates loss

Optimistic result

Under-filled launch = under estimates loss

Network might not work with wrong source

19

The Encircled Flux standard

EF is a new multimode launch condition metric that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Reduces link loss variation

Was developed to keep up with components used in high
speed networks (850 nm VCSEL, OM3/4 fiber)
Was intended for >1GbE
Targets 850 nm and 50 um cabling
Can be used for all sources and links
Improves supplier to supplier consistency

EF tightly controls the number of mode groups

20

How is EF measured?
EF
output

Test cord
output

Near field
measurement

Reference grade
test cord

Source
mandrel

Measured at output of test cord

21

Encircled Flux solves the problem by:

Controlling the number of mode groups launched
from the test cord
2. Requiring better test cords from suppliers
3. Formulating a tight standards-based template
4. Advising all test equipment suppliers to use the
same template.
1.

22

Launch Controller in use

23

Differential Modal Dispersion

62.5 fiber

Laser Optimized 50 Fiber

10 Gb/s
Bit Period

10 Gb/s
Bit Period

Fiber
Core
Center

Standard 62.5 vs. Laser Optimized 50 Fiber:

Received pulse at 10 Gb/s over 300 meters
24

10 GB Ethernet
Approved by TIA in June 2002
A trend finds its continuation
12000
3500
14

13

12.5

Higher Speeds

11

10

4000
6
1500
loss
budgets
4
2000 Smaller
Shorter
Distances
1000
4
10
16
10
100
2 0
500
0 0

6
52

266 1003.56

1000

2.6

10GBASE10GBASE10GBASESS S

11

100BASE100BASE100BASEFX FX
FX
1000
1000
1000
BASE-SX
BASE-SX
BASE-SX

12.5

Fibre
Fibre
Fibre
Channel
Channel
Channel

8
6000
2000

13

ATM
ATM
ATM

8000
10
2500

10000

Token
Token
Ring
4
Mb
Token
Ring 4 Mb
Ring 4 Mb
10BASE10BASEFOIL
10BASEFOIL
Token
FOIL
Ring
16
Token
Token
Mb16
Ring
Ring 16
FDDI/TP
FDDI/TP
FDDI/TP
PMD
PMDPMD
10BASE10BASE10BASEFL
FL FL

Meters
dB
Mbps

10000
3000
12

1986 1987 1989 1992 1993 1993 1994 1995 1998 2002

1986
19861987
1987 1989
1989 1992
1992 1993
1993 1993
1993 1994
1994 1995
1995 1998
1998 2002

25

Smart Testing & Troubleshooting

Eliminate common problems with good practices

during installation and maintenance
Verify continuity, polarity, adequate end-face condition with
basic tools to ensure best termination and installation
practices

Perform complete cable certification per TIA TSB140

Basic certification (Tier 1):
Extended certification (Tier 2):

26

Tier 1 Test with LSPM (Light Source/Power Meter)

Main

Remote

27

Tier 1 Fiber Certification

Basic (Tier 1) certification of

fiber links
Required for standards
compliance
Uses absolute power/loss
measurement
Best for measuring TOTAL
(end-to-end) loss of a fiber
channel
Test against loss limits
based on industry
standards for current
application
28

Tier 1 FAQ- What is the correct way to set a

reference?
1. Set the reference using the test reference cord (sets P0 to 0dB).
2. Attach tail cord to cable under test and measure P1 Loss = - (P1 - P0)
3. Measures loss of two connectors and cable (fiber).

Most accurate and repeatable reference method:

1Jumper Reference Method (also called method B)
29

Tier 1 FAQ- Why am I required to use a

mandrel?

30

What does the Mandrel do?

Mandrel wrap with LED allows testing 50um and 62.5um

31

Tier 1 FAQ- When to use LED (MFM) and when to

use VCSEL (GFM) source?
Core

Cladding

Light

Under-filled launch provides under-estimated loss testing.

32

Tier 2 Test with OTDR

Single-ended testing of
fibers
Increase the quality of
fiber link installation
Troubleshoot faulty fiber
links

33

Tier 2 Fiber Certification

Extended (Tier 2)
certification of a fiber link
Complements Tier 1
fiber certification
Ensure that the fiber
link meets expectations
for current and future
applications

34

Test Example: -Extended (Tier 2) certification

100 m

7m

110 m

Pass/Fail loss budget is 3.2 dB noted for Gigabit in 568-B.1, Annex E

Result of Tier 1 Certification is 2.67 dB

35

Test Example: -Extended (Tier 2) certification

100 m

1.91db loss at connections plus .76db

loss for cable = 2.67db total link loss

7m

110 m

Location
(m)

850nm
(dB)

Event

Pass/Fail

.18

Reflect

Pass

100

.14

Reflect

Pass

107

1.4

Reflect

Fail

217

.19

Reflect

Pass
36

Questions?

37