EXPERIMENT NO.

: 5

LIGHT RUNNER KIT

OBJECTIVE:To study the length dependence of attenuation of in the given optical fiber at different wavelengths.

APPARATUS:- Light runner kit (C-band lasers,850nm lasers, IngaAs

photo detectors, silicon photo detector(PD5)), fiber spools of length 1km,2km,3km.

LIGHT RUNNER:-

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE OF LIGHT RUNNER KIT:-

THEORY AND FORMULA:If P1 represent the input power and P2 represent the output power and the length of fiber is L, then attenuation in the fiber is given by, A = -10log(P2/P1) dB And the attenuation coefficient is given as (db/km) = -(10/L)log(P2/P1) Here each fiber connector has 0.5db loss.

OBSERVATIONS:Length of fiber(km) 1
3

Wavelength(nm) 850

Input power (P1 uW) 370

4
1

1530

90

3
4

1
3

1570

88

Output power (P2 uW) 197 120 53 86 88 83 80 72 69

Attenuation A (dB) 2.74 4.89 8.44 0.2 0.1 0.35 0.41 0.87 1.06

Attenuation coefficient (dB/km) 2.74 1.69 2.11 0.2 0.03 0.09 0.41 0.29 0.265

RESULT:Thus we see as the length of the fiber increases the attenuation increases.

PRECAUTIONS:1. The Laser Diode source emits infrared radiation at 785nm which is invisible to the human eye and may cause eye damage if the output beam is viewed directly. When in use, never stare at the optical output port of the Laser Diode when its dust cap is removed to connect an optical fiber and always replace the device dust cap when the fiber is removed. 2. The unit should be allowed to warm up for ten minutes while preparing to start the experiments. 3. Never touch the ends of optical fibers and connectors or it will reduce the coupling efficiency of light into the fiber.