Series 101: Multimode vs.

Singlemode

Author Mark Mullins

07-09-2017 www.flukenetworks.com| 2006-2017 Fluke Corporation 1

Series 101: Multimode vs. Singlemode
Fiber optic cabling comes in two types multimode and singlemode. Most of you likely know that
multimode cabling distances are shorter than singlemode, and singlemode is therefore deployed for outside
plant long-haul fiber applications, while multimode is the primary choice for data centers and premise
applications.

Singlemode fiber is however growing in popularity in

shorter-reach applications due to its inherently higher
bandwidth capabilities, and more technicians are faced with
installing both singlemode and multimode fiber plants. It
occurred to us that not everyone understands the technical
differences between the two fiber types. Lets take a closer
look.

07-09-2017 www.flukenetworks.com| 2006-2017 Fluke Corporation 2

Series 101: Multimode vs. Singlemode
Whats in a Mode?
In fiber optic data transmission, the term mode is used to
describe the means that a light signal travels through the glass core
of the fibera mode is simply the path that the light follows. So in a
singlemode fiber, the light travels down one path, while in a
multimode fiber, the light travels in many paths. Think of it this way.
When you go down a water slide, you bounce off the walls of the
slide. Each angle that you travel is a mode. Light within a multimode
glass core works the same way. The light hits the glass at an angle
and reflects back again, moving the light along the length of the
core. Why doesnt the light just shine out of the core? First of all, the
light hits the glass at a shallow angle, which causes the glass to act
like a mirror. Secondly, there is a layer around the core called the
cladding. To keep the light inside the core, the cladding has a
different refractive index profile, which is the technical parameter
that determines how much light is bent, or refracted, when entering
a material.
07-09-2017 www.flukenetworks.com| 2006-2017 Fluke Corporation 3
Series 101: Multimode vs. Singlemode
Bandwidth Limiting Delay
Why does singlemode fiber support significantly greater bandwidth and distances? Sending light in a
single mode eliminates something called differential mode delay (DMD), which is the primary bandwidth-
limiting factor of multimode fiber.

When multiple modes travel through a multimode fiber, some travel down the center, while others
travel along pathways closer to the core-cladding interface. Those travelling on the outside edge are referred
to as higher order modes, while those near the center of the core are lower order modes. Higher and lower
order modes travel at different velocities, and DMD is the difference in travel time.

The smaller the DMD, the less the light pulses spread out over time and the higher the bandwidth.
When the time difference between pulses is greater, the receiver may not be able to properly distinguish the
pulses. DMD is directly related to distanceit increases as the fiber length increases. This is why multimode
fiber has much shorter distance requirements than singlemodeup to about 500 meters for multimode
compared to 10 kilometers for singlemode.

07-09-2017 www.flukenetworks.com| 2006-2017 Fluke Corporation 4

Series 101: Multimode vs. Singlemode
DMD can also be caused by imperfections in the
fiber, and fiber manufacturers have learned to limit DMD
by carefully optimizing the fiber refractive index profile.
Rather than the modes refracting only where the core
meets the cladding, multimode fiber uses a graded fiber
index profile that changes continuously from the center of
the core to the core-cladding boundary. This creates a
parabolic (i.e. symmetrical curve) pathway that causes the
lower order modes travelling the shorter distance close to
the core of the fiber to travel slower, and the higher order
modes travelling longer distances near the edge of the
core to travel faster. This minimizes time delays between
pulses, thereby decreasing DMD and allowing for higher
bandwidth.

07-09-2017 www.flukenetworks.com| 2006-2017 Fluke Corporation 5

Series 101: Multimode vs. Singlemode
More Obvious Differences
Some of the more obvious differences between multimode and singlemode include cable color, light
sources and testing. Singlemode is almost always yellow, while multimode is typically aqua. Different types
of multimode may also be different colourswhile OM3 is almost always aqua, OM4 multimode is
sometimes a pink colour called Erika Violet to help distinguish it from OM3, and the latest generation of
multimode fiber, OM5, is lime green.

Another key difference is the light source and associated cost of the transmission equipment.
Singlemode fiber requires a laser light source with a narrow spectral width, which results in more costly
transceivers. While the singlemode cable itself is less expensive than multimode cable, singlemode
transceivers cost anywhere from 1.5 to 4 times that of multimode transceivers.

And when it comes to testing multimode vs. singlemode, its important to understand that the two
fiber types cannot be mixed and launch cords must match the fiber type being tested. Testing multimode
fiber also requires Encircled Flux (EF) testing, which characterizes how the light is launched into the cabling
under test. EF testing restricts the number of modes launched to reduce variability and achieve precise,
repeatable test results. Click here for more information on Encircled Flux testing, or download the white
paper if you really want to delve in.
07-09-2017 www.flukenetworks.com| 2006-2017 Fluke Corporation 6
 Thank You!

07-09-2017 www.flukenetworks.com| 2006-2017 Fluke Corporation 7