The Basics of Fiber The Basics of Fiber

Optics Optics
Ch 2 Ch 2
Fiber Optics Technicians Fiber Optics Technicians
Manual, 3 Manual, 3
rd rd
. Ed . Ed
Jim Hayes Jim Hayes
Optical Fiber Optical Fiber
Fiber v. Copper Fiber v. Copper
Optical fiber transmits light pulses Optical fiber transmits light pulses
- - Can be used for analog or digital Can be used for analog or digital
transmission transmission
- - Voice, computer data, video, etc. Voice, computer data, video, etc.
Copper wires (or other metals) can Copper wires (or other metals) can
carry the same types of signals with carry the same types of signals with
electrical pulses electrical pulses
/vantages of Fiber /vantages of Fiber
Fiber has these advantages Fiber has these advantages
compared with metal wires compared with metal wires
- - Bandwidth Bandwidth -- more data per second more data per second
- - Longer distance Longer distance
- - Faster Faster
- - Special applications like medical imaging Special applications like medical imaging
and quantum key distribution are only and quantum key distribution are only
possible with fiber because they use possible with fiber because they use
light directly light directly
lements of a Fiber Data Link lements of a Fiber Data Link
Transmitter emits light pulses (LED Transmitter emits light pulses (LED
or Laser) or Laser)
Connectors and Cables passively Connectors and Cables passively
carry the pulses carry the pulses
Receiver detects the light pulses Receiver detects the light pulses
Transmitter Receiver
Cable
#epeaters #epeaters
For long links, repeaters are needed For long links, repeaters are needed
to compensate for signal loss to compensate for signal loss
Fiber
Repeater Repeater Repeater
Fiber
Fiber Fiber
Optical Fiber Optical Fiber
Core Core
- - Glass or plastic with a higher Glass or plastic with a higher
index of refraction than the index of refraction than the
cladding cladding
- - Carries the signal Carries the signal
Cladding Cladding
- - Glass or plastic with a lower Glass or plastic with a lower
index of refraction than the core index of refraction than the core
Buffer Buffer
- - Protects the fiber from damage Protects the fiber from damage
and moisture and moisture
Jacket Jacket
- - Holds one or more fibers in a Holds one or more fibers in a
cable cable
$inglemo/e Fiber $inglemo/e Fiber
Singlemode fiber has a core diameter Singlemode fiber has a core diameter
of 8 to 9 microns, which only allows of 8 to 9 microns, which only allows
one light path or one light path or mode mode
- - Images from arcelect.com (Link Ch 2a) Images from arcelect.com (Link Ch 2a)
Index of
refraction
:ltimo/e $tep :ltimo/e $tep- -n/ex Fiber n/ex Fiber
Multimode fiber has a core diameter Multimode fiber has a core diameter
of 50 or 62.5 microns (sometimes of 50 or 62.5 microns (sometimes
even larger) even larger)
- - Allows several light paths or Allows several light paths or modes modes
- - This causes This causes modal dispersion modal dispersion -- some modes some modes
take longer to pass through the fiber than take longer to pass through the fiber than
others because they travel a longer distance others because they travel a longer distance
- - See animation at link Ch 2f See animation at link Ch 2f
Index of
refraction
:ltimo/e Gra/e/ :ltimo/e Gra/e/- -n/ex Fiber n/ex Fiber
The index of refraction gradually The index of refraction gradually
changes across the core changes across the core
- - Modes that travel further also move faster Modes that travel further also move faster
- - This reduces This reduces modal dispersion modal dispersion so the so the
bandwidth is greatly increased bandwidth is greatly increased
Index of
refraction
$tep $tep- -in/ex an/ Gra/e/ in/ex an/ Gra/e/- -in/ex in/ex
Step index multimode was developed Step index multimode was developed
first, but rare today because it has a first, but rare today because it has a
low bandwidth (50 MHz low bandwidth (50 MHz- -km) km)
It has been replaced by graded It has been replaced by graded- -index index
multimode with a bandwidth up to 2 multimode with a bandwidth up to 2
GHz GHz- -km km
!lastic Optical Fiber !lastic Optical Fiber
Large core (1 mm) step Large core (1 mm) step- -index index
multimode fiber multimode fiber
Easy to cut and work with, but high Easy to cut and work with, but high
attenuation (1 dB / meter) makes it attenuation (1 dB / meter) makes it
useless for long distances useless for long distances
$o:rces an/ Wavelengths $o:rces an/ Wavelengths
Multimode fiber is used with Multimode fiber is used with
- - LED sources at wavelengths of 850 and LED sources at wavelengths of 850 and
1300 nm for slower local area networks 1300 nm for slower local area networks
- - Lasers at 850 and 1310 nm for Lasers at 850 and 1310 nm for
networks running at gigabits per second networks running at gigabits per second
or more or more
$o:rces an/ Wavelengths $o:rces an/ Wavelengths
Singlemode fiber is used with Singlemode fiber is used with
- - Laser sources at 1300 and 1550 nm Laser sources at 1300 and 1550 nm
- - Bandwidth is extremely high, around Bandwidth is extremely high, around
100 THz 100 THz- -km km
Fiber Optic $pecifications Fiber Optic $pecifications
Attenuation Attenuation
- - Loss of signal, measured in dB Loss of signal, measured in dB
Dispersion Dispersion
- - Blurring of a signal, affects bandwidth Blurring of a signal, affects bandwidth
Bandwidth Bandwidth
- - The number of bits per second that can The number of bits per second that can
be sent through a data link be sent through a data link
Numerical Aperture Numerical Aperture
- - Measures the largest angle of light that Measures the largest angle of light that
can be accepted into the core can be accepted into the core
tten:ation an/ Dispersion tten:ation an/ Dispersion
See See
animation animation
at link Ch at link Ch
2e 2e
eas:ring Ban/i/th eas:ring Ban/i/th
The The -andwidth -andwidth- -distance product distance product in in
units of units of MHz MHz km shows how fast data km shows how fast data
can be sent through a cable can be sent through a cable
A common multimode fiber with A common multimode fiber with
bandwidth bandwidth- -distance product of 500 distance product of 500
MHz MHz km could carry km could carry
- - A 500 MHz signal for 1 km, or A 500 MHz signal for 1 km, or
- - A 1000 MHz signal for 0.5 km A 1000 MHz signal for 0.5 km
From Wikipedia From Wikipedia
:merical pert:re :merical pert:re
If the core and cladding have almost the If the core and cladding have almost the
same index of refraction, the same index of refraction, the numerical numerical
aperture aperture will be small will be small
This means that light must be shooting This means that light must be shooting
right down the center of the fiber to stay right down the center of the fiber to stay
in the core in the core
See Link Ch 4d See Link Ch 4d
Fiber Types an/ $pecifications Fiber Types an/ $pecifications
From Lennie Lightwave (www.jimhayes.com/lennielw/fiber.html)
!op:lar Fiber Types !op:lar Fiber Types
At first there were only At first there were only
two common types of fiber two common types of fiber
- - 62.5 micron multimode, intended for 62.5 micron multimode, intended for
LEDs and 100 Mbps networks LEDs and 100 Mbps networks
There is a large installed base of 62.5 micron There is a large installed base of 62.5 micron
fiber fiber
- - 8 micron single 8 micron single- -mode for long distances mode for long distances
or high bandwidths, requiring laser or high bandwidths, requiring laser
sources sources
Cornings SMF Cornings SMF- -28 fiber is the largest base of 28 fiber is the largest base of
installed fiber in the world (links Ch 2j, 2k) installed fiber in the world (links Ch 2j, 2k)
Gigabit thernet Gigabit thernet
62.5 micron multimode fiber did not 62.5 micron multimode fiber did not
have enough bandwidth for Gigabit have enough bandwidth for Gigabit
Ethernet (1000 Mbps) Ethernet (1000 Mbps)
LEDs cannot be used as sources for LEDs cannot be used as sources for
Gigabit Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet -- they are too slow they are too slow
So Gigabit Ethernet used a new, So Gigabit Ethernet used a new,
inexpensive source: inexpensive source:
-Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting
Laser (VCSEL)
:ltimo/e Fiber Designe/ for VC$Ls
First came laser First came laser- -rated 50 micron rated 50 micron
multimode multimode
- - Bandwidth 500 MHz Bandwidth 500 MHz- -km at 850 nm km at 850 nm
Then came laser Then came laser- -optimized 50 optimized 50
micron multimode micron multimode
- - Bandwidth 2000 MHz Bandwidth 2000 MHz- -km at 850 nm km at 850 nm
- - Distinctive aqua Distinctive aqua- -colored jacket colored jacket
See links Ch 2g, 2h, 2i See links Ch 2g, 2h, 2i
Don't ix Fiber Types Don't ix Fiber Types
ou cant mix singlemode and ou cant mix singlemode and
multimode fiber multimode fiber -- you lose 20 dB at you lose 20 dB at
the junction (99% of the light!) the junction (99% of the light!)
Mixing 50 micron and 62.5 micron Mixing 50 micron and 62.5 micron
multimode is not as bad, but you multimode is not as bad, but you
lose 3 dB (half the power) which is lose 3 dB (half the power) which is
usually unacceptable usually unacceptable
Flash Car/s Flash Car/s
To memorize this stuff, I use online To memorize this stuff, I use online
flash cards flash cards
- - Go to samsclass.info Go to samsclass.info
- - Click on CNIT 211 Click on CNIT 211
- - Click on Flashcards Click on Flashcards
- - Choose Ch 2a: Fiber Types Choose Ch 2a: Fiber Types
Fiber an:fact:re Fiber an:fact:re
Three etho/s Three etho/s
Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition
(MCVD) (MCVD)
Outside Vapor Deposition (OVD) Outside Vapor Deposition (OVD)
Vapor Axial Deposition (VAD) Vapor Axial Deposition (VAD)
o/ifie/ Chemical Vapor o/ifie/ Chemical Vapor
Deposition (CVD) Deposition (CVD)
A hollow, rotating glass A hollow, rotating glass
tube is heated with a tube is heated with a
torch torch
Chemicals inside the tube Chemicals inside the tube
precipitate to form precipitate to form soot soot
Rod is collapsed to crate Rod is collapsed to crate
a a preform preform
Preform is stretched in a Preform is stretched in a
drawing tower drawing tower to form a to form a
single fiber up to 10 km single fiber up to 10 km
long long
- - Image from thefoa.org Image from thefoa.org
o/ifie/ Chemical Vapor o/ifie/ Chemical Vapor
Deposition (CVD) Deposition (CVD)
O:tsi/e Vapor Deposition (OVD) O:tsi/e Vapor Deposition (OVD)
A mandrel is coated with a porous A mandrel is coated with a porous
preform in a furnace preform in a furnace
Then the mandrel is removed and Then the mandrel is removed and
the preform is collapsed in a process the preform is collapsed in a process
called called sintering sintering
- - Image from csrg.ch.pw.edu.pl Image from csrg.ch.pw.edu.pl
Vapor xial Deposition (VD) Vapor xial Deposition (VD)
Preform is Preform is
fabricated fabricated
continuously continuously
When the preform When the preform
is long enough, it is long enough, it
goes directly to goes directly to
the drawing tower the drawing tower
- - Image from Image from
csrg.ch.pw.edu.pl csrg.ch.pw.edu.pl
Draing Draing
The fiber is drawn from The fiber is drawn from
the preform and then the preform and then
coated with a protective coated with a protective
coating coating
n/ex of #efraction n/ex of #efraction
When light enters a dense medium like When light enters a dense medium like
glass or water, it slows down glass or water, it slows down
The index of refraction (n) is the ratio of The index of refraction (n) is the ratio of
the speed of light in vacuum to the speed the speed of light in vacuum to the speed
of light in the medium of light in the medium
Water has n = 1.3 Water has n = 1.3
- - Light takes 30% longer to travel through it Light takes 30% longer to travel through it
Fiber optic glass has n = 1.5 Fiber optic glass has n = 1.5
- - Light takes 50% longer to travel through it Light takes 50% longer to travel through it
Fiber pplications Fiber pplications
$tep $tep- -in/ex :ltimo/e in/ex :ltimo/e
Large core size, so source power can Large core size, so source power can
be efficiently coupled to the fiber be efficiently coupled to the fiber
High attenuation (4 High attenuation (4- -6 dB / km) 6 dB / km)
Low bandwidth (50 MHz Low bandwidth (50 MHz- -km) km)
Used in short, low Used in short, low- -speed datalinks speed datalinks
Also useful in high Also useful in high- -radiation radiation
environments, because it can be environments, because it can be
made with pure silica core made with pure silica core
Gra/e/ Gra/e/- -in/ex :ltimo/e in/ex :ltimo/e
Useful for "premises networks like Useful for "premises networks like
LANs, security systems, etc. LANs, security systems, etc.
62.5/125 micron has been most 62.5/125 micron has been most
widely used widely used
- - Works well with LEDs, but cannot be Works well with LEDs, but cannot be
used for Gigabit Ethernet used for Gigabit Ethernet
50/125 micron fiber and VSELS are 50/125 micron fiber and VSELS are
used for faster networks used for faster networks
$inglemo/e Fber $inglemo/e Fber
Best for high speeds and long Best for high speeds and long
distances distances
Used by telephone companies and Used by telephone companies and
CATV CATV
Fiber !erformance Fiber !erformance
tten:ation tten:ation
Modern fiber material is very pure, but there is Modern fiber material is very pure, but there is
still some attenuation still some attenuation
The wavelengths used are chosen to avoid The wavelengths used are chosen to avoid
absorption bands absorption bands
- - 850 nm, 1300 nm, and 1550 nm 850 nm, 1300 nm, and 1550 nm
- - Plastic fiber uses 660 nm LEDs Plastic fiber uses 660 nm LEDs
Image from iec.org (Link Ch 2n) Image from iec.org (Link Ch 2n)
Three Types of Dispersion Three Types of Dispersion
Dispersion is the spreading out of a Dispersion is the spreading out of a
light pulse as it travels through the light pulse as it travels through the
fiber fiber
Three types: Three types:
- - Modal Dispersion Modal Dispersion
- - Chromatic Dispersion Chromatic Dispersion
- - Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD)
o/al Dispersion o/al Dispersion
Modal Dispersion Modal Dispersion
- - Spreading of a pulse because different Spreading of a pulse because different
modes (paths) through the fiber take modes (paths) through the fiber take
different times different times
- - Only happens in multimode fiber Only happens in multimode fiber
- - Reduced, but not eliminated, with Reduced, but not eliminated, with
graded graded- -index fiber index fiber
Chromatic Dispersion Chromatic Dispersion
Different wavelengths travel at Different wavelengths travel at
different speeds through the fiber different speeds through the fiber
This spreads a pulse in an effect This spreads a pulse in an effect
named named chromatic dispersion chromatic dispersion
Chromatic dispersion occurs in both Chromatic dispersion occurs in both
singlemode and multimode fiber singlemode and multimode fiber
- - Larger effect with LEDs than with lasers Larger effect with LEDs than with lasers
- - A far smaller effect than modal A far smaller effect than modal
dispersion dispersion
!olarization o/e Dispersion !olarization o/e Dispersion
Light with different polarization can Light with different polarization can
travel at different speeds, if the fiber travel at different speeds, if the fiber
is not perfectly symmetric at the is not perfectly symmetric at the
atomic level atomic level
This could come from imperfect This could come from imperfect
circular geometry or stress on the circular geometry or stress on the
cable, and there is no easy way to cable, and there is no easy way to
correct it correct it
It can affect both singlemode and It can affect both singlemode and
multimode fiber. multimode fiber.
o/al Distrib:tion o/al Distrib:tion
In graded In graded- -index fiber, the off index fiber, the off- -axis axis
modes go a longer distance than the modes go a longer distance than the
axial mode, but they travel faster, axial mode, but they travel faster,
compensating for dispersion compensating for dispersion
- - But because the off But because the off- -axis modes travel axis modes travel
further, they suffer more attenuation further, they suffer more attenuation
6:ilibri:m o/al Distrib:tion 6:ilibri:m o/al Distrib:tion
A long fiber that has lost the high A long fiber that has lost the high- -
order modes is said to have an order modes is said to have an
equili-rium modal distri-ution equili-rium modal distri-ution
For testing fibers, devices can be For testing fibers, devices can be
used to condition the modal used to condition the modal
distribution so measurements will be distribution so measurements will be
accurate accurate
o/e $tripper o/e $tripper
An index An index- -matching substance is put matching substance is put
on the outside of the fiber to remove on the outside of the fiber to remove
light travelling through the cladding light travelling through the cladding
- - Figure from fiber Figure from fiber- -optics.info (Link Ch 2o) optics.info (Link Ch 2o)
o/e $crambler o/e $crambler
Mode scramblers mix light to excite Mode scramblers mix light to excite
every possible mode of transmission every possible mode of transmission
within the fiber within the fiber
- - Used for accurate measurements of Used for accurate measurements of
attenuation attenuation
- - Figure from Figure from
fiber fiber- -optics.info optics.info
(Link Ch 2o) (Link Ch 2o)
o/e Filter o/e Filter
Wrapping the fiber around Wrapping the fiber around
a 12.5 mm mandrel a 12.5 mm mandrel
- - Exceeds the critical angle for total Exceeds the critical angle for total
internal reflection for very oblique internal reflection for very oblique
modes modes
- - The high The high- -order modes leak into the order modes leak into the
cladding and are lost cladding and are lost
- - That creates an equilibrium modal That creates an equilibrium modal
distribution distribution
- - Allows an accurate test with a short test Allows an accurate test with a short test
cable cable
Figure from fiber Figure from fiber- -optics.info (Link Ch 2o) optics.info (Link Ch 2o)
Decibel Units Decibel Units
Optical Loss in /B (/ecibels) Optical Loss in /B (/ecibels)
If the data link is perfect, and loses no power If the data link is perfect, and loses no power
- - The loss is 0 dB The loss is 0 dB
If the data link loses 50% of the power If the data link loses 50% of the power
- - The loss is 3 dB, or a change of The loss is 3 dB, or a change of -- 3 dB 3 dB
If the data link loses 90% of the power If the data link loses 90% of the power
- - The loss is 10 dB, or a change of The loss is 10 dB, or a change of -- 10 dB 10 dB
If the data link loses 99% of the power If the data link loses 99% of the power
- - The loss is 20 dB, or a change of The loss is 20 dB, or a change of -- 20 dB 20 dB
dB = 10 log (Power Out / Power In) dB = 10 log (Power Out / Power In)
Data Link
Power In
Power Out
bsol:te !oer in /Bm bsol:te !oer in /Bm
The power of a light is measured in The power of a light is measured in
milliwatts milliwatts
For convenience, we use the dBm units, For convenience, we use the dBm units,
where where
- -20 dBm 20 dBm = 0.01 milliwatt = 0.01 milliwatt
- -10 dBm 10 dBm = 0.1 milliwatt = 0.1 milliwatt
0 dBm 0 dBm = 1 milliwatt = 1 milliwatt
10 dBm 10 dBm = 10 milliwatts = 10 milliwatts
20 dBm 20 dBm = 100 milliwatts = 100 milliwatts