Optical Fibers Lecture-2

Signal Losses

B.E I SEM

Dr. G. Ramadevudu
Assistant Professor (Sr)
Department of Physics
Vasavi College of Engineering (A)
Hyderabad, Telangana State
 Recap
• A single mode step index fiber allows the propagation of
only one mode (axial) or TE mode

• Multimode step index fiber allows propagation of a finite number of

guided modes. The core diameter is around 50µm or more.

• GRIN Multimode fiber allows a finite number of guided modes. The core
diameter is around 50-62.5-100µm.

The number of modes supported by a fiber

 Types Losses in Optical fibers

Attenuation Alignment Losses

Signal Distortion

Intrinsic Extrinsic Intermodal Intramodal

Material Dispersion Dispersion
Absorption Macro-Bending

Rayleigh’s Micro-Bending Waveguide Dispersion

Scattering
Chromatic Dispersion
 Attenuation
The strength of the optical signal decreases with
distance as it propagates down the length of the fiber.
The optical power decreases exponentially and is called
as attenuation
P0=Pi e-L
Pi- is input power launched into the OF
Po - is output power at the end
L- length of the fiber and  is called attenuation coefficient
P0/Pi=e-L
Pi/P0=eL
 = (1/L) ln (Pi/P0)
dB/km = (10/L) log (Pi/P0)
• Single-mode fibers usually operate in the 1310 nm
or 1550 nm regions, where attenuation is lowest.
• This makes single-mode fibers the best choice for
long distance communications.
• Multimode fibers operate primarily at 850 nm and
sometimes at 1300 nm.
 Intrinsic Losses
Intrinsic absorption losses arise due to fibre
material inherent properties such as presence of
impurities, in-homogenieties etc.

Material Absorption: It may be due to

• atomic defects in the composition
• Impurity atoms present in fibre material composition
• Absorption by the constituent atoms of the material
Rayleigh’s Scattering is caused by small-scale (small compared
with the wavelength of the light wave) in-homogeneities
present in the fiber. In-homogeneities in the glass composition
fluctuations (results in refractive index change) and density
fluctuations. Rayleigh scattering accounts for about 96% of
attenuation in optical fiber.
 Rayleigh scattering describes
the elastic scattering of light
by particles which are much
smaller than the wavelength
of light.

Brillouin Scattering: An incident photon can be

converted into a scattered photon of slightly
lower energy, usually propagating in the
backward direction and a phonon (vibrational
energy) is released .
The frequency of the reflected beam is slightly
lower than that of the incident beam. This is
called Brillouin Frequency Shift. This
phenomenon has been used for fiber optic
sensor applications.
 Extrinsic
Extrinsic losses or bending losses are due to external
mechanisms and occur while installation of fibres at
curves or during manufacturing process.

Macro-Bending: It occurs when the fiber is bent into a

large radius of curvature relative to the fiber diameter
(large bends). Macro bends cause strain over the bent
area. These bends become source of power loss. ,
when fibers are bent below a certain radius, radiation
causes big light power loss
 Micro-Bending
Micro-bendings are the small-scale bends in the core-cladding
interface. These are localized bends and develop during
deployment of the fiber due to local mechanical stresses
placed on the fiber, such as stresses induced by cabling the
fiber or wrapping the fiber on a spool . Micro-bending can also
happen in the fiber manufacturing process
Alignment Losses
 Fiber Type Wavelength Fiber Loss
Multimode 50/125 µm 850 nm 3.5 dB/km
(OM2/OM3/OM4)

Multimode 62.5/125 µm 850 nm 3.5 dB/km

(OM1)

Single-mode 9 µm 1310 nm 0.4 dB/km

Single-mode 9 µm 1550 nm 0.3 dB/km

 Signal Distortion
The major reason for signal distortion within optical
waveguide is dispersion. dispersion mechanism inside
the fiber causes broadening of the transmitted light
pulses as they travel along the channel.
Dispersion: Any phenomenon in which the velocity of
propagation of any electromagnetic wave is wavelength
dependent.
In communication, dispersion is any process by which
electromagnetic signal propagating in a medium degraded
due to the various wave characteristics
Material & waveguide dispersions are main causes of
Intramodal Dispersion.
 Intra-modal Dispersion: Chromatic Dispersion
Material Dispersion: All light sources are inherently non-
monochromatic and emit within a spectrum of
wavelengths. Waves in the fiber travel at different group
velocities due to the wavelength dependence of R.I. The
waves arrive at the end of the fiber at different times and
hence result in a broadened output pulse.
Waveguide Dispersion: Waveguide dispersion is due to the
dependency of the group velocity of the fundamental mode
as well as other modes on the V-number.

The Pulse spread is given by

 Intermodal Dispersion (Modal Dispersion)

Intermodal Dispersion or Modal Dispersion is due to

difference in group velocities of different modes. The
lower order modes and higher order modes travel
different distances and hence arrive at the destination
end at different times. There is a time delay between
arrival of different modes.
 Axial Ray
Fibre axis Cladding (n2)
Pulse dispersion
Minimization of Losses in Optical Fiber
• Make sure to adapt the high-quality cables with same
properties as much as possible.
• Choose qualified connectors as much as possible.
• Avoid any undue stress on the fiber, particularly during
installation.
• Keep insertion loss lower than 0.3dB and the additional loss
lower than 0.2dB.
• minimize the number of joints and number of splices.
• Minimize tight bends that cause light to refract through the
fiber cladding
• Clean connector often - especially before and after testing
• provide protection from lightning protection, electrical, anti-
corrosion and anti mechanical damage.
 Advantages
• Less Expensive
• Flexible
• Thinner
• Can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper
• Higher data capacity
• Less Signal degradation
• No interference
• Unlike copper, fiber does not suffer from
electromagnetic interference
• Low Power
• Non-hazardous- Since there is no electricity there is
no danger!
 Applications of Optical Fibres

• Lighting and Decorations: Fiber optic cables provide an easy,

economical and attractive solution to lighting projects. they are
widely used in lighting decorations and illumination.
• Internet: Fiber optic cables transmit large amounts of data at very
high speeds and is widely used in internet cables. As compared to
traditional copper wires, fiber optic cables are less bulky, lighter,
more flexible, and carry more data.
• Computer Networking: Networking between computers in a single
building or across nearby structures is made easier and faster with
the use of fiber optic cables (LAN OR WAN or MAN).
• Cable Television: Ideal for transmitting signals for high definition
televisions due to their high bandwidth and speed. Fiber optic
cables are cheap compared to copper wires.
• Telephone: Faster and have clear conversations
 Applications of Optical Fibres

• Medical
• Automobile
• Military and Space
• BIO MEDICAL
• SENSORS
 Applications of Optical Fibres

SENSORS
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Force
• Structural Health Monitoring
• Chemical sensors for pH measurement, gas
analysis
• Concentration measurement
• Bio medical sensors for measurement of blood
flow, glucose content
 Optical Fibre Communication link block diagram

Signal Degradation
Driver Circuit Light
(Transducers Sources OE Detector Signal
etc) (LED, Laser) (Photodiode, Restorer
PIN, APD)
Amplifier
Input
Output