ENCS 1

Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

Assignment 1.

1.2 (0.5%), 2.1(0.5), 2.7(0.8%), 2.8(0.5%), 2.9(0.7%), 2.10 (1.0%), 2.12 (1.0%)

1.2. Refractive index.

(a) Consider light of free-space wavelength 1300 nm traveling in pure silica medium. Calculate
the phase velocity and group velocity of light in this medium. Is the group velocity ever greater
than the phase velocity?
(b) What is the Brewster angle (the polarization angle θp) and the critical angle (θc) for total
internal reflection when the light wave traveling in this silica medium is incident on a silica/air
interface. What happens at the polarization angle?
(c) What is the reflection coefficient and reflectance at normal incidence when the light beam
traveling in the silica medium is incident on a silica/air interface?
(d) What is the reflection coefficient and reflectance at normal incidence when a light beam
traveling in air is incident on an air/silica interface? How do these compare with part (c) and
what is your conclusion?

Solution.
Silica: εr = 3.84 low frequency (LF), λfree space = 1300 nm, ε₀ = 8.8542x10⁻¹² F/m,
μ₀ = 4πx10⁻⁷ H/m
a)
Phase velocity = v =c/n, where refractive index n is 1.447 from fig. 1.7
v = 3·10⁸/1.447 = 2.073·10⁸ (m/s)
dw c
group velocity = vg=  defines the speed with which energy is propagated (since it
dk N g
defines the speed of the envelope of the amplitude variation),
Ng = 1.462 from fig. 1.7 at λ = 1300 nm
3  108
vg =  2.052  108 (m/s)
1.462
v - vg 2.073  2.052
 100%   100%  1.01%
v 2.073
the group velocity is about ∼1.01% is slower than the phase velocity at wavelength 1300 nm.
Group index has higher values than refractive index of the silica, because dn/dλ is negative for
glasses; therefore, the phase velocity will be higher than group velocity in this medium, v > vg
(fig. 1.7). Though, for positive dn/dλ group velocity value will be higher than value of phase
velocity, vg > v. For example, PbS, PbTe, PbSe in the region λ = 1-3.5 μm.
 ENCS 2
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

b)
Critical angle is the minimum incident angle for total internal reflection (TIR) when the
refraction angle equals to 90°. TIR results when incident angle is greater than critical angle value
(n₁ > n₂).
n
 c  sin 1 2
n1
Polarization angle or Brewster’s angle is the maximum incident angle for TIR. It can be found by
zeroing the reflection coefficient for the electric field component parallel to the plane of
incidence, r//=0. The reflected wave has an E-field only perpendicular to the plane of incidence.
n
 p  tan 1 2
n1
n₁= 1.447, n₂ = 1 (air)
1
 c  sin 1  0.763 rad or 43.72o
1.447
1
 p  tan 1  0.605 rad. or 34.65o
1.447
c)
at normal incidence or when θi= 0
n1  n2
The reflection coefficient is r//  r  =0.183 and phase is zero for internal reflection
n1  n2
2
 n  n2 
Reflectance is R  R//  R   1  = 0.0335
 n1  n2 
d)
n₁= 1, n₂ = 1.447
n  n2
The reflection coefficient is r//  r  1 = -0.183 is negative because there is a 180° phase
n1  n2
shift for external reflection of the light from glass in air
2
 n  n2 
Reflectance is R  R//  R   1  = 0.0335 or 3.35% is the same
 n1  n2 

2.1. Dielectric slab waveguide.

(a) Consider the rays 1 and 2 in Fig. 2.3. Derive the waveguide condition.
(b) Consider the two rays 1 and 2 in Fig. 2.4. Show that the phase difference when they meet at
C at a distance y above the guide center is
 m  k1 2a  y cos  m  m
 ENCS 3
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

(c) Using the waveguide condition, show that

 m   m ( y)  m 
y
m  m 
a

Solution.
a)
from fig. 2.3
(a-y)/AC=cosθ
A'C/AC=cos(π-2θ)
at point C two rays are met |A'C| and |AC|
the phase difference between the arrays at point C is
Φ=k₁AC-ϕ-k₁A'C=k₁AC-k₁ACcos(π-2θ)-ϕ=k₁AC[1-cos(π-2θ)]-ϕ=k₁AC[1+cos(2θ)]-
ϕ=k₁[(a-y)/cosθ][1+2cos²θ-1]-ϕ=k₁[(a-y)/cosθ][2cos²θ]-ϕ=2k₁(a-y)cosθ-ϕ
Given waveguide condition is
 2 2a n1 
   cos  m  m  m
 
k₁=(2πn₁)/λ

 m  m  m  m
∴ cos  m  
2n1 2a  k1 2a 
m  m
then  m  2k1 a  y cos  m  m  2k1 a  y   m
k1 2a 

∴  m  1  y m  m   m  m  y m  m 

 a a

 m   m  y   m  m  m 
y
a

2.7. Dielectric slab waveguide.

Consider a planar dielectric waveguide with a core thickness 10 μm, n₁=1.4446, n₂=1.4440.
Calculate the V-number, the mode angle θm for m=0 (use a graphical solution, if necessary),
penetration depth, and mode field distance (MFW=2a+2δ), for light wavelengths of 1.0 μm and
5 μm. What is your conclusion? Compare your MFW calculation with 2w₀=2a(V+1)/V.

Solution.
2a 2
V

n1  n22 
1/ 2

for λ=1.0 μm
2  5 106
V
10 6

1.44462  1.44402 
1/ 2
 1.3079

m=0 → one mode propagates

 ENCS 4
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

from example 2.1.1

1/ 2
  n2  
2

sin  m    
2

    n1  
tan ak1 cos  m  m     f  m 
 2 cos  m
For m=0
n
Critical angle is  c  sin 1 2  1.542 rad. or 88.35
n1
Mode angle will be in the range between 88.35° and 90°

From graph θm=θ₀=88.92°

To find penetration depth
1/ 2
 n  2 
2n2  1  sin 2  m  1
1  n2  
 m   0.199 ( m) -1
m 
1
m   5.054 m
m
MFW=2a+2δ=2(5+5.054)=20.108≈20.11 μm
or MFW=2w₀≈2a(V+1)/V=2(5·10⁻⁶)(1.3079+1)/1.3079=17.646·10⁻⁶ (m) or 17.6 μm
difference is about 12%
for λ=5 μm

V
2  5  10 6
5  10 6
1.4446 2  1.4440 2 
1/ 2
 0.2616  0.262

m=0 → one mode propagates

 ENCS 5
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

from example 2.1.1

1/ 2
  n2  
2

sin  m    
2

    n1  
tan ak1 cos  m  m     f  m 
 2 cos  m
For m=0
n
Critical angle is  c  sin 1 2  1.542 rad. or 88.35
n1
k₁=(2πn₁)/λ
k₁=1.815 (μm)⁻¹
Mode angle will be in the range between 88.35° and 90°

From graph θm=θ₀=88.4°

To find penetration depth
1/ 2
 n  2 
2n2  1  sin 2  m  1
1  n2  
 m   0.01295 ( m) -1
m 
1
m   77.22 m
m
 ENCS 6
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

MFW=2a+2δ=164.4 μm
or MFW=2w₀≈2a(V+1)/V=2(5·10⁻⁶)(0.262+1)/0.262=48.168·10⁻⁶ (m) or 48.2 μm
The calculation of MFW from 2a(V+1)/V gets less accurate as V decreases. Though, this is a
single step calculation compare to the formula which involves the penetration depth value. In this
case, θm must be calculated too.

2.8. A multimode fiber.

Consider a multimode fiber with a core diameter of 100 μm, core refractive index of 1.475, and a
cladding refractive index of 1.455 both at 850 nm. Consider operating this fiber at λ=850 nm.
(a) Calculate the V-number for the fiber and estimate the number of modes.
(b) Calculate the wavelength beyond which the fiber becomes single mode.
(c) Calculate the numerical aperture.
(d) Calculate the maximum acceptance angle.
(e) Calculate the modal dispersion Δτ and hence the bit rate x distance product given that rms
dispersion σ ≈ 0.29Δτ in which Δτ is the full spread.

Solution.
a)
2a 2
V

n1  n22 
1/ 2

V = 89.47
V ≫ 2.405 → M≈V²/2=4002
b) V < 2.405
λcut-off > [2πa(n₁²-n₂²)1/2]/[2.405]=31.62 μm
λcut-off =31.6 μm
c) NA=(n₁²-n₂²)1/2 = 0.242
d) sinαmax=NA/nair=0.242, αmax=14.0°
e) modal dispersion Δτ/L≈(n₁-n₂)/c=(1.475-1.455)/(3·10⁸)=66.7 ps/m or 66.7 ns/km
BL=(0.25L)/σtotal=(0.25L)/σintermode=0.25/(0.29)(66.7)=13Mb·km/s
Material dispersion will further decrease BL
 total
2
  int
2
er mod e   material
2

2.9. A single mode fiber.

Consider a fiber with a SiO₂-13.5%GeO₂ core of diameter of 8 μm and refractive index of 1.468
and cladding refractive index of 1.464 both refractive indices at 1300 nm where the fiber is to be
operated using a laser source with a half maximum width (FWHM) of 2 nm.
(a) Calculate the V-number for the fiber. Is this a single mode fiber?
(b) Calculate the wavelength below which the fiber becomes multimode.
(c) Calculate the numerical aperture.
 ENCS 7
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

(d) Calculate the maximum acceptance angle.

(e) Obtain the material dispersion and waveguide dispersion and hence estimate the bit rate x
distance product (BxL) of the fiber.

Solution.

a) V 
2a
n
2
n 
2 1/ 2


2 4m 1.4682  1.4642 
1/ 2

 2.094
 1 2
1.3m

b) the fiber becomes multimode when V > 2.405

or



2a n12  n22
1/ 2

 1.13 m
2.405
For wavelengths shorter than 1.13 μm, the fiber becomes multi-mode waveguide.
c) NA=(n₁²-n₂²)1/2 = 0.108
d) sinαmax=NA/nair=0.108, αmax=6.2°
the total acceptance angle is 2·αmax=12.4°
e) from fig. 2.21 for λ=1.3 μm and a=4 μm
Dm=-7.5ps km⁻¹nm⁻¹ and Dw=-5.0ps km⁻¹nm⁻¹
 1 / 2
 Dm  Dw 1 / 2
L
 1 / 2
 12.5ps km -1nm 1  2nm  25ps km 1  0.025 ns km -1
L
Material dispersion is 15 ps/km and waveguide dispersion is 10 ps/km
The maximum bit-rate distance product is then
0.59 L 0.59
BL≈   23.6 Gb s -1km
 1 / 2 0.025 ns km-1

2.10. A single mode fiber design.

According to question 1.3 (ch.1), the Sellmeier dispersion equation provides n vs. λ for pure
SiO₂ and SiO₂-13.5 mol.%GeO₂. The refractive index increases linearly with the addition of
GeO₂ to SiO₂ from 0 to 13.5 mol.%. A single mode step index fiber for use at 1300 nm is
required to have the following properties: NA = 0.1, core diameter of 9 μm, and a core of SiO₂ -
13.5% GeO₂. What should the cladding composition be?

Solution.
a=4.5 μm
Sellmeier equation:
G12 G22 G32
n 1  2 2  2 2  2 2
2

  1   2   3
 ENCS 8
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

where G₁, G₂, G₃ and λ₁, λ₂, λ₃ are constants given below, λ₁, λ₂, λ₃ are in μm.

Sellmeier G₁ G₂ G₃ λ₁ λ₂ λ₃
constants
SiO₂- 0.711040 0.451885 0.704048 0.0642700 0.129408 9.425478
13.5%GeO₂

λ=1.3 μm
from Sellmeier equation n₁=1.4682
2a 2  4.5m
V= NA  0.1  2.175
 1.3m
If NA  n12  n22   
1/ 2 1/ 2
 2n12  then Δ=NA²/(2n₁²)=0.00232
Δ=(n₁-n₂)/n₁ or
n₂=n₁-Δn₁=1.4648
Refractive index n(x) of SiO₂-xmol.%GeO₂ assuming a linear relationship can be written as
n(x)= n(0)(1-x/13.5)+n(13.5)x/13.5 where n(0)=1.4473 pure silica, and n(13.5)=1.4682 for SiO₂-
13.5%GeO₂

n(13.5)

n(11.3)

n(0)

11.3 13.5 %

by linear interpolation the amount of GeO₂ can be obtained.

n(x)=ax+b → n(0)=b and a=(n(13.5)-n(0))/13.5
n(x)=n(0)(1-x/13.5)+n(13.5)x/13.5
where n(x)=1.4648
∴ x=11.3
The cladding composition is SiO₂-11.3%GeO₂

2.12. Waveguide dispersion.

Solution.
Waveguide dispersion arises as the result of the dependence of the propagation constant on the
V-number which depends on the wavelength. It is present even when the refractive index is
constant; no material dispersion. Assume that n₁ and n₂ are wavelength (or k) independent.
 ENCS 9
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

Suppose that β is the propagation constant of mode lm and k=2π/λ where λ is the free space
wavelength. Then the normalized propagation constant b is defined as,

b
 / k 2  n22 (1)
n12  n22
Shown that for small normalized index difference Δ=(n₁-n₂)/n₁, eq. (1) approximates to

b
 / k   n2 (2)
n1  n2
which gives β as,
  n2 k 1  b (3)
The group velocity is defined and given by
dw dk
vg  c
d d
Thus, the propagation time τ of the mode is
L L  d  Ln Ln  d kb
     2  2 (4)
vg c  dk  c c dk
Where we assumed Δ ≈ constant (does not depend on the wavelength). Given the definition of
V,

V  ka n12  n22 
1/ 2
 kan1  n2 n1  n2 
1/ 2

1/ 2
  n  n 
 kan1  n2 n1  1 2  (5)
  n1 
 ka2n2 n1   kan2 2 
1/ 2 1/ 2

From eq. (5),

d Vb  d
dV

dV

bkan2 2   an2 2 
1/ 2

1/ 2 d

dV
bk 
This means that τ depends on V as,
Ln Ln  d Vb 
 2 2 (6)
c c dV
Dispersion, that is, spread δτ in τ due to a spread δλ can be found by differentiating eq. (6) to
obtain,
d Ln2  dV d d Vb  Ln2   V  d 2 Vb  Ln2  d 2 Vb 
      V (7)
d c d dV dV c    dV 2 c dV 2
The waveguide dispersion coefficient is defined as
d n  d 2 Vb 
Dw   2 V (8)
Ld c dV 2
Figure 2 question 5 shows the dependence of V[d²(Vb)/dV²] on the V-number.
In the range 2<V<2.4
 ENCS 10
Assignment 1, ELEC 425/1-2012

d 2 Vb  1.984
V 
dV 2 V2
so that eq. (8) becomes,
n2  1.984
Dw  
n  n  1.984
 1 2 (9)
c V 2
c V2
We can simplify this further by using
1/ 2
n  1.984 1.984n2    
Dw   2    1/ 2 
c V 2 c  2an2 2   (10)
1.984
Dw   
c2a  2n2
2

Equation (6) should really have Ng2 instead of n₂ in which case eq. (10) would be
1.984 N g 2
Dw    (11)
c2a  2n22
2

Consider a fiber with a core of diameter of 8 μm and refractive index of 1.468 and a cladding
refractive index of 1.464 both refractive indices at 1300 nm. Suppose that a 1.3 μm laser diode
with a spectral linewidth of 2 nm is used to provide the input light pulses. Estimate the
waveguide dispersion per kilometer of fiber using eqs. (8) and (11).

V
2a

n n 2

2 1/ 2


2 4m 1.4682  1.4642 1/ 2

 2.094
 1 2
1.3m
Δ=(n₁-n₂)/n₁=(1.468-1.464)/1.468=0.00273
From the graph 2.38 Vd²(Vb)/dV²=0.45

Dw  
n2  d 2 Vb 
 

1.464 2.73 103 
0.45  4.6 106 s / m2
c
V
dV 2  
3 108 ms1 1300 109 m 
or Dw≈-4.6 ps km⁻¹ nm⁻¹
using eq. (10)

Dw  
1.984
  

1.984 1300 109 m 
 4.6 106 s / m2
c2a  2n2
2
 
3 10 m / s 2  4 10 m 21.464
8 6 2

or Dw≈-4.6 ps km⁻¹ nm⁻¹
for Δλ1/2=2nm
Δτ1/2=|Dw|LΔλ1/2=(4.6 ps km⁻¹ nm⁻¹)(2 nm)=9.2 ps/km