5

Power Launching and

Coupling
This lecture is based on Chapter 5, G. Keiser

drzafrullah@uettaxila.edu.pk

Topics in this lecture

Launching optical power into a fiber

Fiber-to-Fiber coupling

Fiber Splicing and connectors

1
Coupling Efficiency
power coupled into the fiber P
= = F
power emitted from the sourse Ps

Ps PF
Source Optical Fiber

Radiance (Brightness) of the source

Optical power coupled into the fiber depends upon the
radiance of optical source rather than total output power.
(Optical power radiated from a unit area of the source into
a unit solid angle) [spatial distribution of the optical
power]

2
Source output pattern
For surface emitting LEDs

B ( , ) = B 0 cos
B0 is the radiance along the normal to
the radiating surface

For Edge emitting LEDs and laser

diodes
1 sin
2
cos 2
= +
B ( , ) B0 cos T B0 cos L
Integers T and L are the transverse and
lateral power distribution coefficients
For edge emitting LEDs, L = 1

Power Coupled from source to the fiber

PF = A s s s dAs =
B ( A , ) d
f f
2 0 max
rm 2

= B ( , ) sin d d d s rdr
0 0 0 0
A s and s : area and solid emission angle of the source
A f and f : area and solid acceptance angle of fiber
6

3
Example: Power coupled from LED to
the Step Index Fiber
0 max
rs 2

P= 2B0 cos sin d d s rdr
0 0
For rs < a (fiber radius)
0
rs 2
= B0 sin
2
0 max d s rdr
0 0
rs 2
= B0 NA d rdr
2
s
0 0

PLED,step = 2rs B0 (NA)2 2 2rs B0n1

2 2 2

Total optical power from LED:

2 / 2
Ps = As
0 0
B( , ) sin dd

/2
Ps = rs 2B0 cos sin d =
2 2 2
rs B0
0

Ps ( NA ) 2 if rs a

PLED, step = a 2
Ps ( NA ) if rs a
2

rs

Derive eqs 5.5 and 5.8 (Assignment)

8

4
 Equilibrium Numerical Aperture
Non propagating modes will scatter out within a short
distance (~ 50 m) and equilibrium is established

NA in
2
NA eq
Numerical Aperture

P eq = P 50
NA
in
NA eq

0 50 100 150 meters

Fiber Length

Examples of possible lensing schemes used to

improve optical source-to-fiber coupling efficiency

Collimating

Focuses light onto a line

10

5
LED to Fiber Coupling as a function of
Emitting Diameter

Fiber NA = 0.2
Core Radius a = 25 m

Coupling Efficiency (%)

Emitting Diameter (m)

11

Fiber-to-Fiber Joints
Low loss fiber-fiber joints are either:
1 Splice (permanent bond)
2 Connector (demountable connection)
Fiber-to-Fiber coupling loss, LF (dB) = 10 log F
where F = M comm / ME
= Common mode volume / No of emitting modes

12

6
Different modal distribution of the optical beam emerging
from a fiber lead to different degrees of coupling loss

When all modes are equally excited, the

output beam fills the entire output NA

For a steady state modal distribution, only the

equilibrium NA is filled by the output beam

13

Mechanical Misalignment Losses

Lateral (axial) misalignment loss is a

dominant Mechanical loss

1/ 2
d d
2
A 2 d
F ,step = comm = arccos 1

a 2 2 a a 2 a

Derive the similar expression for GI Fiber (Assignment)

14

7
Longitudinal offset effect

Losses due to differences in the geometry and waveguide

characteristics of the fibers

L (a) = 10 log R
a
for aR aE
aE
F

L (a) = 20 log
NA R
for NA R NA E
F
NA E

E & R subscripts refer to emitting and receiving fibers

15

Experimental comparison of Losses as

a function of mechanical misalignment

16

8
Fiber End Face

Fiber end defects

17

Fiber Splicing

Fusion Splicing

18

9
V-groove Optical Fiber Splicing

19

Optical Fiber Connectors

Some of the principal requirements of a good
connector design are as follows:
1- low coupling losses
2- Interchangeability
3- Ease of assembly
4- Low environmental sensitivity
5- Low-cost and reliable construction
6- Ease of connection

20

10
Connector Return Loss

21

Assignment

22

11