Optical Fiber Modes and

Configurations: Fiber Types

Optical Fiber: dielectric (normally cylindrical)
waveguide that operates at optical
frequencies.
Transmission properties are dictated by fiber
structural characteristics
The propagation of light along a waveguide
can be described in terms of a set guided
electromagnetic waves called modes of the
waveguide

Fiber Types
These modes are referred to
as bound or trapped modes of
waveguides
Optical Fiber structure
Core
Cladding
Reduces scattering loss that results
from discontinuities at core
Mechanical support
Protect core from contaminants
Coating

Fiber Types
Single mode
sustains on mode
of propagation
Multimode
supports many
modes

Fiber Types
Advantages of Multimode
Larger core radii makes it easier to launch optical power
into the fiber and facilitate connecting of similar fiber
LEDs can be used
Disadvantage
Intermodal dispersion (when optical pulse is launched into
fiber, optical power is distributed over all of the modes.
Each mode travels at slightly different velocity. This means
modes arrive at the fiber end at slightly different times,
causing pulse to spread out in time. This is known as
intermodal dispersion or intermodal dispersion
Intermodal dispersion can be reduced using graded
index profile. Thus, graded index fiber have much
larger bandwidth than step index fiber
Fiber Optics Propagation
Electromagnetic light guided along a fiber can be represented
by a superposition of bound modes. Each mode consists of
simple EM configurations. For light field with radian frequency
w, a mode traveling in z direction has time and z dependence
e
j(wt-z)
(z component of wave propagation constant).
For guided modes, can assume discrete value
Two methods
Ray tracing
Good approximation to light acceptance and guiding properties of fiber
when fiber radius to wave length is large
More direct physical interpretation of light propagation characteristics
Modal Analysis uses electromagnetic analysis
Single mode fiber
Coherence, interference phenomena
Fiber bent loss

Step Index Fiber
For step index fiber,
n2 = n1 (1-),
is core-cladding index difference or index difference,
value nominally 1-3% for multimode and 0.2 to 1 % for
single mode.
Since n1>n2, EM energy is made to propagate
along fiber through internal reflection

Ray Optics Representation
From snells law, for total internal reflection
Sin(
min
)=n
2
/n
1
n sin
0,max
= n
1
sin
c
= (n
1
2
-n
2
2
)
1/2

c
=/2-
c
Numerical aperture
NA =n sin
0,max
= (n
1
2
-n
2
2
)
1/2
n1 (2)
1/2
Example
Compute the numerical aperture and
acceptance angle for the symmetrical AlGaAs
slab waveguide where n1=3.6, n2=3.55
Solution

NA = (3.6
2
-3.55
2
)
1/2
=0.598

o
=36.7
o

Thus, all light incident within +/- 36.7
o
is accepted
NA =n sin
0,max
= (n
1
2
-n
2
2
)
1/2
n1 (2)
1/2
EM spectrum
Particle theory
Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen, 965-1040) proposed a particle theory of light in his Book of Optics
(1021). He held light rays to be streams of minute energy particles
[4]
that travel in straight lines
at a finite speed.
[5][6][7]
He states in his optics that "the smallest parts of light," as he calls them,
"retain only properties that can be treated by geometry and verified by experiment; they lack all
sensible qualities except energy."
[4]
Avicenna (980-1037) also proposed that "the perception of
light is due to the emission of some sort of particles by a luminous source".
[9]

Pierre Gassendi (1592-1655), an atomist, proposed a particle theory of light which was
published posthumously in the 1660s. Isaac Newton studied Gassendi's work at an early age,
and preferred his view to Descartes' theory of the plenum. He stated in his Hypothesis of Light of
1675 that light was composed of corpuscles (particles of matter) which were emitted in all
directions from a source. One of Newton's arguments against the wave nature of light was that
waves were known to bend around obstacles, while light travelled only in straight lines. He did,
however, explain the phenomenon of the diffraction of light (which had been observed by
Francesco Grimaldi) by allowing that a light particle could create a localised wave in the aether.
Newton's theory could be used to predict the reflection of light, but could only explain
refraction by incorrectly assuming that light accelerated upon entering a denser medium
because the gravitational pull was greater. Newton published the final version of his theory in
his Opticks of 1704. His reputation helped the particle theory of light to hold sway during the
18th century. The particle theory of light led Laplace to argue that a body could be so massive
that light could not escape from it. In other words it would become what is now called a black
hole. Laplace withdrew his suggestion when the wave theory of light was firmly established. A
translation of his essay appears in The large scale structure of space-time, by Stephen Hawking
and George F. R. Ellis.