Ray theory transmission

A fiber acts as an open optical waveguide, which may be analysed using simple ray theory.

Total internal reflection:

Consider the propagation of light within an optical fiber using ray theory with refractive index of
the dielectric medium.
Refractive Index
The refractive index (or index of refraction) of a medium is defined as the ratio of the velocity of
light in a vacuum to the velocity of light in the medium.
Refractive index, n=c/v
Where n-refractive index (n=1.00 for air, 1.33 for water, 1.50 for glass and 2.42 for diamond).
c- speed of light in free space(3x108m/s)
v-speed of light in a given material(m/s)

Refraction

Figure. Refraction

Refraction occurs when a ray is incident on the interface between two dielectrics of differing
refractive indices (e.g. glass–air).

Snell’s law
The angles of incidence Φ1 and refraction Φ2 are related to each other and to the refractive
indices of the dielectrics by Snell’s law of refraction. The refractive indices of two medias have
n1 and n2, [n1>n2]
Snell’s law states that,
n1 sin Φ1 n2 sin Φ2
(or)
sin Φ1/ sin Φ2 = n1/ n2

Critical Angle
The angle of refraction is always greater (90°) than the angle of incidence(<90°). This is the
limiting case of refraction and the angle of incidence is now known as the critical angle Φc.
 Figure. Critical angle, Φc

Critical angle (Φc) can be expressed by using Snell’s law

n1 sin Φ1 n2 sin Φ2

sin Φ1 = n2/ n1 sin Φ2

When Φ2=90°, Φ1 becomes critical angle Φc.

Φc= n2/ n1

Total Internal Reflection(TIR)

 Figure. Total internal reflection where ΦΦc
At angles of incidence greater than the critical angle the light is reflected back into the
originating dielectric medium (total internal reflection) with high efficiency (around 99.9%).
This is known as Total internal reflection.

Meridional Ray
The ray has an angle of incidence at the interface which is greater than the critical angle and is
reflected at the same angle to the normal.
Figure. The transmission of a light ray in a perfect optical fiber

The light ray shown in Figure 2.3 is known as a meridional ray as it passes through the axis of
the fiber core.
This type of ray is the simplest to describe and is generally used when illustrating the
fundamental transmission properties of optical fibers.