PHY227Lecture3 FibreOptics

Lecture 3: Fibre Optics
Lecture aims to explain:
1. Fibre applications in telecommunications
2. Principle of operation
3. Single- and multi-mode fibres
4. Light losses in fibres
Fibre is a transparent cylinder made of a

dielectric. Most common material used in
fibres is fused silica (amorphous SiO2)
Nobel Prize for Fibre Optics
Nobel Prize for Physics 2009

Sir Charles K. Kao for
"groundbreaking achievements
concerning the transmission of light in
fibers for optical communication
Work was mainly done at Standard

Telecommunication Laboratories (STL) in
Harlow, England in 1960s, with ground-
breaking predictions for use of glass
fibres for telecommunications in 1966
Applications in
telecommunications
Information encoded using light
Light has very high frequency: f = c / 10 Hz 15
About 103-104 more information can

be transmitted than by microwave 1970, Corning Glass Works, first fibre
22 April 1977, first live telephone traffic

Very short light pulses can be used through fiber optics 6 Mbit/s at 0.8 m.
to transmit bits of information
The second generation: early 1980s, 1.3 m.
By 1987 rates of up to 1.7 Gb/s, repeater
Information can be encoded using spacing up to 50 km. The first transatlantic
telephone cable with optical fibre in 1988.
wavelength (or colour)
Third- and fourth-generation in 1990s and
Multiplexing: use of single pathway 2000s: at 1.55 m, losses only about 0.2
dB/km. Bit rate of 10 Tb/s was reached by
to transmit simultaneously several 2001. Repeaters at 100 km and more.
signals which nonetheless retain
their individuality
Advantages of fibres
1. Low-loss transmission
2. High information carrying capacity
3. Small size and weight
4. Immunity to electro-magnetic interference

(bringing unparalleled signal security), no
cross-talk between parallel fibres, can be
installed in dense areas
5. Abundant availability of the required raw

material (sand)
Other major applications:
Medical applications (endoscopes etc)
Industrial application (e.g. as probes)
Principle of operation
Total internal reflection in fibres
nc Fibre: transparent cylinder of
refractive index nf imbedded in a
no material of refractive index nc
p
nf i plane containing the optical axis then
If we consider a ray travelling in the
it will remain constrained as long as:
nc
cos p
nf
Role of cladding: Cladding provides medium with
lower n and protects from frustrated total internal
reflection e.g. from fibre touching, dust or moisture
on the surface
Single and multi-mode
fibres
Fibre modes
y
k
p
d z
nf
For the wave to propagate in the fibre, electromagnetic

wave theory requires waves to interfere constructively
Allowed angles of propagation

inside the fibre:

sin p = p
2dn f
The lowest order mode is p=0 and is along the
fibre axis. The highest order is near c.
Different types of multi-mode fibres
Typical sizes 50m
Step-index fibres: abrupt change

in material refractive index
Disadvantage: Dispersion
Graded-index fibres: a gradual

decrease of the refractive index
towards the cladding. Often by a
parabola law
Advantage: serpentine modes travel similar time

to the central mode, since it is slower (larger n)
http://www.fiber-optics.info/articles/types_of_optical_fiber
Single mode fibre
If for the mode with p=1 1 is greater than the critical angle for
the total internal reflection c then it cannot propagate, only the
p=0 mode will. This is the case for a single mode fibre
The condition for single mode propagation

d<
2 n 2f nc2
To generalise a fibre will carry modes

0,1,2p-1 (that is, p modes) if
d < p / 2 n 2f nc2
Light losses in fibres
Attenuation in silica fibres
Ultraviolet range: electronic absorption
Infrared range: lattice vibrations (phonons)
Transparent regions at 1.3 and 1.55 m
Losses due to Rayleigh scattering ~1/4 and

water-related absorption (max at 1.38m).
Additional losses due to imperfections and
sharp bends
Minimum loss (attenuation) ~0.1dB/km at

1.55 micron (1550nm): 100km before re-
amplification (10 times attenuation)
dB = 10 log10 (Pout Pin )

EXAMPLE 3.1: Single mode fibre
Calculate the diameter of a single mode fibre with nf=1.62 and nc=1.52
operating at =1.55m
EXAMPLE 3.2: Multi-mode fibre

A glass fibre with nf = 1.52 and nc = 1.50 and a diameter d = 1.8 micron
operates with light of wavelength 1.3 micron.
(i) What is the highest order mode that can propagate?
(ii)What is the highest order of the mode for wavelength in the visible red
region?
(iii) What is the external angle of acceptance corresponding to the modes
with the highest numbers in (i) and (ii)
EXAMPLE 3.3: Fibre design

Design a fibre enabling propagation of only two lowest modes at the
wavelength of 1.55 micron using glass with low dispersion and nf = 1.45
for the fibre core.

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Lecture 3: Fibre Optics

Lecture aims to explain:

1. Fibre applications in telecommunications

3. Single- and multi-mode fibres

4. Light losses in fibres

Fibre is a transparent cylinder made of a

Nobel Prize for Physics 2009

Work was mainly done at Standard

Light has very high frequency: f = c / 10 Hz 15

About 103-104 more information can

22 April 1977, first live telephone traffic

2. High information carrying capacity

3. Small size and weight

4. Immunity to electro-magnetic interference

5. Abundant availability of the required raw

it will remain constrained as long as:

For the wave to propagate in the fibre, electromagnetic

Allowed angles of propagation

Typical sizes 50m

Step-index fibres: abrupt change

Graded-index fibres: a gradual

Advantage: serpentine modes travel similar time

The condition for single mode propagation

To generalise a fibre will carry modes

Transparent regions at 1.3 and 1.55 m

Losses due to Rayleigh scattering ~1/4 and

Minimum loss (attenuation) ~0.1dB/km at

dB = 10 log10 (Pout Pin )

EXAMPLE 3.2: Multi-mode fibre

EXAMPLE 3.3: Fibre design

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