Ray paths in different types of optical fibers

1. Ray path in hom ogeneous medium

One can represents the differential equation of ray paths are as follows :
n2 x
dx

1

2
dz
2

whare, the ray will move in such a fashion that n x . For a given
refractive index type of optical fiber , the ray is parallel and will turn back towards z axis
dx
when 0. If this is true for x xi where, n n xi , then xi is the turning po int . So, at this po int,
dz
2
n xi
1 0 n xi
2
The ray equation can be given as :
2
2
2
2
2
d dx
dx d 2 x d n x d n x d n x dx 1 dn x dx

1 2
2
2
2
dz dz
dz dz 2 dz 2
dx dz
dz dx dz

2
d 2x
1 dn x

dz 2 22 dx

d 2x
0 and the ray path become : x z A Bz
dz 2
2. Ray path in square law medium :

When, n x cons tan t ,

x
Here, n x n 1 2 , for x a core and n 2 x n12 1 2 n22 for x a clady
a

2
1

4n12 x
2n12
n 2
d 2x
d 2x

2 x, where, 1
2
2
2 2
2 2
dz
dz
2 a
a
a

Solution : x z A sin z B cos z represents the general ray path. In a parabolic index fiber
in general we take, x z 0 and hence, B 0
x z A sin z.
It the ray incident on the optical fiber at x 0 at an angle 1 , then : tan1
A

dx
dz

A.
z 0

a tan1
a sin 1
; But , n x cos x ; So, n 0 cos 0 n1 cos 1 A
n1 2
2

xz

n 2
a sin 1
sin 1
z

a
2

The periodic length of the sin usodial ray path is given by : z p

2 2a

n1 2

Transit time p calculations

Let p represents the time for the ray path to traverse the length z p . Now the time taken to
travel a small dis tan ce ds is : d

ds
1
n x ds
x c
12

dz 2
1
2
2 12
p n x ds; ds dx dz 1 dx

c
dx
n2 x

2
dz
Now, 1 1 2

n x 2
dx

n 2 x 2

n x
n 2 x 2

n 2 x dx
1
p n x ds
; Therefore, time taken to take one quarter of z p is
c
n 2 x 2
xi
n 2 x dx
1
p
where, xi is the turning po int .
4
n 2 x 2
0

Pulse dispersion in a parabolic index medium

If xi is the turning po int, then in parabolic index medium :
2
1

a
xi
2
2
2 2

n 1 2 xi
n1
n1 2
a

2
2

x
x 2
2
2
2
n
1

n
1

1


xi
xi
xi 1
2
a
a
n x
4
4
4

p
dx
dx
dx
2
2
c 0 n 2 x 2
c0
c

0
x
x
n12 1 2 2
n12 1 2 2
a
a

2
1

x
4 i n1 2

c 0 a

4n 2
1
ca

xi

4 a
xi2 x 2 dx
c n1 2

x
xi2
x x sin 1
2
xi
2
i

xi

xi

2
xi2 x 2

dx
xi

x
4a2
sin 1

0 n1c 2
xi 0

4 n1 2 xi2
4a2 n1 2 a
2a2
2
2 2

0
. .
.
..
n1 n c 2
ca
ca
2 2 n1c 2 2
1
n1 2

or , p

a
.
n12 2
c n1 2

Sin ce the propagation of the wave is sinusoidal : x z

Therefore, if z p is the periodic length, then,
Hence, z p

n 2
a sin 1
sin 1
2
a

n1 2
z p 2
a

2
2a

n1 2 n1 2
a

For all guided rays : n2 n1

For small angle incidence : 1

0 and cos 1 1, n1 cos 1 n1 z p

If z represents the time to travel a dis tan ce ' z ', then :

z
z

p
zp

a
.
n12 2
c n 2
1

2 a

2a
2

n12
n12
1
1

z
2c
2c

n1 2

d
1 n2
0 for z min 1 12 z 0 n1 , i.e., when, cos 1 1 or 1
2c
d

which means that the ray launch like a paraxial ray.

z min

n12
n1
1

z z
2c
c

For z z max , the ray is parallel to z axiz at z a where, n2

z max

n12
1
n

2
z
2c
n2

Thus, by defination pulse dispersion : z z max z min

z
When, n1

n12
n1
n12
1
1
n

2n1 z
2

2
2c
n2
c
2c
n2

1
1
2
n12 n22 2n1n2 z
n1 n2 z
2cn2
2cn2

n2 , i.e. the wave guide with small neumerical apprature,

n
1
2
n1 n2 z 1 2 z where, n1
2cn2
2c

n2 and

n1 n2

n1