Exercise 3

Javier Pardo
Exercise 3
Obtention of numerical aperture (NA), skip distance (L) and optical pathway (l)
in the optic fiber:
i) Numerical aperture of fiber optics (NA)

For a total internal reflection of the beam inside the fiber we need nf >nc , so we
𝑛𝑐
can get a critical angle sin(𝜃' )= 𝑛𝑓 where there is not refraction. As 𝜃' = 90–𝛽'
then we can also write sin(𝜃' )= cos(𝛽′) = √1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛽′) . Joining both expressions
and using the Snell's law with ni sin(𝛼) = nf sin (𝛽) we get the expresion
𝑛𝑐 𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝛼′) 2
= √1– ( ) where 𝛼 ' is the maximum value of the angle 𝛼 to get a total
𝑛𝑓 𝑛𝑓
internal reflexion of the beam inside the fiber.
We can get the expression of the numerical aperture from the last equation:
NA = ni sin(𝛼 ') = √𝑛𝑓 2 – 𝑛𝑐 2
We only need the refractive indices of the fiber and the cladding.
ii) Skip distance (L)

𝑑
We can see in the picture the relation tan(𝛽) = 𝐿 , and using only sinus we can
1
get L = d√𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛽) – 1 . Now using the Snell's law nisin(𝛼) = nf sin(𝛽) and
substituting we get the expression for the skip distance:
𝑛𝑓
L = d√(𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝛼))2 – 1
To know the skip distance we need to the refractive indices of the fiber and the
incidence medium, the incidence angle 𝛼 and the width h of the fiber.
iii) Optical pathway (l)

𝐿
In the picture we see that cos(𝛽)= 𝑙 . On the other hand we can write Snell's law
in the next way ni sin(𝛼)=nf √1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝛽)2 where we can clear cos(𝛽) . Joining
both expressions we get the expression for the optical pathway:
𝐿
l= 𝑛𝑖
√1−( 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝛼))2
𝑛𝑓
For the optical pathway we need the refractive indices of the fiber and the
incidence medium, the incidence angle 𝛼 and the skip distance L.
Now we have 3 optical fibers of diameter 100𝜇𝑚 where rays go from air (ni=1)
to:
a) nf=1.48 , nc=1.00
b) nf=1.48 , nc=1.39
c) nf=1.48 , nc=1.46
And we want to get for each case:

1. Calculation of the numerical aperture NA=√𝑛𝑓 2 – 𝑛𝑐 2 and the value of the
𝑁𝐴
maximal acceptance angle 𝛼′=arcsin( 𝑛𝑖 )
2. Calculation of the skip distance L, the optical pathway l and the number N of
reflections in 1m fiber for a ray incoming at the maximal acceptance angle 𝛼′ (we
1𝑚
can get this with N= 𝐿 ±1)
3. Calculation of the difference between the time to go straight and to go
through the longest pathway in 1km optical fiber. We must calculate the difference
1𝑘𝑚
between the time of the beam to travel the distance 𝐿 ∙ 𝑙 and the time to travel
𝑐 103 ∙𝑙∙𝑛𝑓 103 ∙𝑛𝑓 103 ∙𝑛𝑓 𝑙
1km, with a velocity 𝑛𝑓 . This is ∆t = – = (𝐿 – 1)
𝐿∙𝑐 𝑐 𝑐
a) nf=1.48 , nc=1.00
1. Using the formule NA = 1.091 but this means that the acceptance angle
𝛼′>90° . Besides the maximum value of NA is 1.
1
For a total internal reflection we need 𝜃 ≥arcsin(1.48)=42.5° , then 𝛽 ≤47.5° .
And we get this for any value of 𝛼 ∈ (0°, 90°).
Then 𝛼′<90° and NA<1
2. L=109.1 𝜇𝑚 ; l=1.356 𝑚 ; N=9165
3. ∆t = 1760 ns
b) nf=1.48 , nc=1.39
1. NA = 0.508 ; 𝛼′=30.55°
2. L = 273.5 𝜇𝑚 ; l=1.065 𝑚 ; N=3656
3. ∆t = 319 ns
c) nf=1.48 , nc=1.46
1. NA = 0.242 ; 𝛼′= 14.03°

2. L=602.2𝜇𝑚 ; l=1.014 𝑚 ; N=1660
3. ∆t = 68 ns
The next graphic shows the relation between the optical pathway l and the
incidence angle accepted 𝛼 for each case.
When the angle is 𝛼 =0 , in all the cases the value of the optical pathway l is 1m,
the same than the lenght of the fiber, because the beam travels parallel to the axis
of the fiber. When the incidence angle gets larger the value of l also is bigger until
the maximum value of the maximal acceptance angle in each case.
In the first case all the angles are accepted until 𝛼 → 90° and then l≈ 1.35 𝑚
In the second case the maximal angle accepted is 30.5° where l≈ 1.06 𝑚
In the third case the maximal angle is 14° with l≈ 1.01 𝑚

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Javier Pardo

i) Numerical aperture of fiber optics (NA)

ii) Skip distance (L)

iii) Optical pathway (l)

And we want to get for each case:

1. NA = 0.242 ; 𝛼′= 14.03°

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