Optical Fibre

*Optical Fibre: The cylindrical and flexible transparent material (glass/plastic) which acts as a wave
guide for light waves by total internal reflection, known as Optical Fibre.

Principle of Optical Fibre: The optical fibre works on the principle of total internal reflection to act
as wave guide for light waves.
Structure of Optical Fibre
1. Core: A typical glass fibre consists of a central thick cylinder made from glass, known as core.
Generally, core diameter is about 10-100µm. The core is surrounded by cladding. The core medium
refractive is always greater than the cladding refractive index (n1>n2) in order to satisfy the total
internal reflection.
2. Cladding: The outer cylindrical optical material which covers core known as Cladding. It has
refractive index is lower than the core (n2<n1). The diameter of cladding is about 125µm - 200µm. The
core cladding boundary plays important role in keeping signal inside the core.
3. Buffer Coating: A Plastic coating is providing protection from physical damage and environmental
effect.

*Total Internal Reflection:

When a ray of light travels from denser medium (core) to rarer medium (cladding), it bends away from
normal.
As angle of incidence increases the angle of refraction which bends more and more the refracted ray.
At Angle of incidence ϴ = ϴc, the angle of refraction is r=90o and refracted ray travels through
boundary of two media. At angle of incidence ϴ1 > ϴc, the angle of refraction is r>90o, means that the
refracted ray totally reflected inside denser medium (core). This phenomenon is known as Total
Internal Reflection

*Types of Optical Fibre:

The classification based on the refractive index is as follows:
 Step Index Fibres: It consists of a core surrounded by the cladding, which has a uniform
refractive index.
 Graded Index Fibres: The refractive index of the optical fibre decreases as the radial distance
from the fibre axis increases.

The classification based on the mode of propagation of light is as follows:

 Single-Mode or Mono-mode Fibres: The fibres which allows only one wave mode to pass
through it, is known as Single-mode Fibres. These fibres are used for long-distance
transmission of signals.
  Multimode Fibres: The fibres which allows multiple wave mode to pass through it, is known
as Multimode Fibres. These fibres are used for short-distance transmission of signals.
The classification based on the materials used is as follows:
 Plastic Optical Fibres: The polymethylmethacrylate is used as a core material for the
transmission of light.
 Glass Fibres: It consists of extremely fine glass fibres.
The mode of propagation and refractive index of the core is used to form four combination types of
optic fibres as follows:
 Step index-single mode fibres
 Step index-Multimode fibres
 Graded index-single mode fibres
 Graded index-Multimode fibres

*Types of Optical Fibre: (based on the refractive index)

The classification based on the refractive index is as follows:
A. Step index fibre:
1. Step index fibre is a fibre in which the core is of a uniform refractive index and there is
a sharp decrease in the index of refraction at the cladding. Index profiles are in the shape
of step.
2. The light rays propagate in zig–zag manner inside the core.
3. The diameter of the core is between 50-200µm in the case of multimode fibre and 10µm in
the case of single mode fibre.
4. The bandwidth is about 50 MHz for multimode step index fibre whereas it is more than 100
MHz in case of single mode step index fibre.
5. Refractive Index profiles is in the shape of a step.
0

B. Graded index fibre

1. Graded index fibre is a type of fibre where the refractive index of the core is uniform at the
centre core and then it decreases towards core-cladding interface.
2. The light rays propagate in the form of skew rays or helical rays.
3. The diameter of the core is about 50µm in the case of multimode fibre.
4. Index profiles is in the shape of a parabolic curve.
5. The bandwidth is about 200 MHz-600MHz for multimode step index fibre.
*Distinguish between Step Index (SI) and Graded Index (GRIN) Optical Fibre.
Sr. SI GRIN
No.
1 Discontinuity of index profile at core- R.I. profile of core decreases gradually to
cladding boundary. attain R.I. of cladding at core-cladding
boundary.
2 R. I. of core is uniform R.I. of core decreases from axis to core-
cladding boundary.
3 High attenuation Low attenuation
4 Larger Numerical Aperture (NA) Smaller Numerical Aperture (NA)
5 Light propagates in Zig-zig path. Light propagates in helical manner.
(Sinusoidally)
6 Refractive Index profiles is in the shape Refractive Index profiles is in the shape
of a step. of a parabolic curve.

*Types of Optical Fibre: (based on the modes of propagation and refractive Index)
The mode of propagation and refractive index of the core is used to form following combinations
types of optical fibres as follows:
1) Single (Mono) mode Step index fibres: The step index fibres which allows only one
wave mode to pass through it, is known as Single mode Step index Fibres
i. The bandwidth is more than 100 MHz for single mode step index fibre.
ii. The diameter of the core is about 10 µm in the case of single mode step index fibre.
iii. The light rays propagate in zig–zag manner inside the core.
iv. Refractive Index profile is stepwise (discontinuous).
v. Refractive Index of core is uniform.
2) Multimode Step index Fibres: The Step index fibres which allows multiple wave
modes to pass through it, is known as Multimode Step index Fibres.
i. The bandwidth is more than 50 MHz for multimode step index fibre.
ii. The diameter of the core is about 50 -200 µm in the case of multimode step index fibre.
iii. The light rays propagate in zig–zag manner inside the core.
iv. Refractive Index profile is stepwise (discontinuous).
v. Refractive Index of core is uniform.
3) Multimode Graded index fibres: The Graded index fibres which allows multiple
wave modes to pass through it, is known as Multimode Graded index fibres.
i. The bandwidth is more than 200-600 MHz for multimode graded index fibre.
ii. The diameter of the core is about 50µm in the case of multimode graded index fibre.
iii. The light rays propagate in helical manner inside the core.
iv. Refractive Index profile is parabolic (continuous).
v. Refractive Index of core is not uniform (decreases from central axis of core to core-cladding
interface)
*Important Terms
Critical angle (ϴc): The angle of incidence at which angle of refraction is 90o, known as Critical angle.

When the ray of light travels from denser medium to rarer medium, the angle of incidence at which
angle of refraction is 90o (i.e. refracted ray travels through core-cladding boundary),
At Angle of incidence ϴ = ϴc, the angle of refraction is r=90o,
𝒏
Critical angle, ϴ𝒄 = 𝑺𝒊𝒏−𝟏 [𝒏𝟐 ]
𝟏

Acceptance angle (θ0): The maximum angle of incidence for which the light ray enters into the core
and travels along the fibre is called as acceptance angle.
√𝒏𝟏 𝟐 − 𝒏𝟐 𝟐
ϴ𝒐 = 𝑺𝒊𝒏−𝟏 [𝑵𝑨] = 𝑺𝒊𝒏−𝟏 [ ]
𝒏𝒐
If no = 1 (for air and vacuum) then ϴ𝒐 = 𝑺𝒊𝒏−𝟏 [𝑵𝑨] = 𝑺𝒊𝒏−𝟏 [√𝒏𝟏 𝟐 − 𝒏𝟐 𝟐 ]
Acceptance Cone: The cone in which light rays are accepted and transmitted along the optical fibre
and having angle 2θ0, is called as Acceptance Cone.

Numerical Aperture (NA): The light gathering capacity of the fibre, known as Numerical Aperture
(NA). Mathematically, The sine of maximum acceptance angle is known as Numerical Aperture
(NA) and it is the measure of amount of light that can be accepted by the fibre.
√𝒏𝟏 𝟐 − 𝒏𝟐 𝟐
𝑁𝐴 =
𝒏𝒐
If no = 1 (for air and vacuum) then 𝑵𝑨 = √𝒏𝟏 − 𝒏𝟐 𝟐
𝟐
Fractional Refractive Index (∆): The fractional difference between refractive indices of core and
cladding is known as fractional refractive index change.
𝑛 −𝑛
∆= 1𝑛 2 For optical fibre, ∆<<1, i.e. in order of 0.01
1

*Attenuation (losses) in Optical fibre:

*Attenuation (losses): The optical power traveling along the fibre decreases exponentially with
distance.
The loss of power of a light wave on propagating (traveling) through optical fibre is known as
attenuation
𝑷 𝑷
𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 = −𝟏𝟎 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ( 𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕)= 𝟏𝟎 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 (𝑷 𝒊𝒏 )
𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒕
Unit is decibel (dB)
*Attenuation constant (α): The loss of power of light wave per unit length is known as Attenuation
constant.
𝑷 𝑷
𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 −𝟏𝟎 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ( 𝒐𝒖𝒕) 𝟏𝟎 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ( 𝒊𝒏 )
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕
𝛂= 𝑳 = =
𝑳 𝑳
Unit is decibel (dB/km)

*Factors affecting Attenuation:

There are following important optical fibre losses mechanisms:
1) Absorption: The type of loss in optical fibre that occurs when light is absorbed by the material
of the fibre, due to impurities in the fibre or by the natural absorption of the material itself.
2) Rayleigh scattering: Rayleigh scattering, is caused by irregularities in glass material of a core
of the fibre, Similarly, light travels in the core, it interacts with the silica molecules in the core. These
elastic collisions between the light wave and the silica molecules result in Rayleigh scattering.
3) Dispersion: Dispersion loss is due to the broadening or spreading of transmitted light pulses
as they travel along the fibre, leading to the signal distortion and unreadable. This occurs due to
the different propagation speeds of different wavelengths in an optical fibre.
4) Macro bending and microscopic bends: Bending loss is a type of optical signal loss that occurs
in optical fibres when the fibre is bent beyond a certain limit. The macro bending can be observed
but micro bending may not be observed as it occurs due to different reasons like heat. The leak of light
may be possible as refractive index changes due to bending.

*Advantages of optical fibre communication over conventional communication:

i. Broad bandwidth (frequency range): For TV signals, a single optical fibre can carry over 90000
independent signals (channels).
ii. Immune to EM interference: Optical fibre being electrically non-conductive, does not pick up
nearby EM signals.
iii. Low attenuation loss: loss being lower than 0.2 dB/km, a single long cable can be used for several
kilometres.
iv. Electrical insulator: Optical fibres being electrical insulators, ground loops of metal wires or
lightning do not cause any harm.
v. Theft prevention: Optical fibres do not use copper or other expensive material which are prone to
be robbed.
vi. Security of information: Internal damage is most unlikely to occur, keeping the information
secure.
Some additional Advantages of Optical fibre (short)
 Economical and cost-effective
 Thin and non-flammable
 Less power consumption
 Less signal degradation
 Flexible and lightweight
*Applications of Fiber Optics:
The optical fibres have many applications. Some of them are as follows −
 Used in (telephone) telecommunication systems
 Used in sub-marine cable networks
 Used in data link for computer networks, CATV Systems
 Used in CCTV surveillance cameras
 Used for connecting fire, police, and other emergency services.
 Used in hospitals, schools, and traffic management systems.
 They have many industrial uses and also used for in heavy duty constructions.

*Fibre Optic Communication System:

Fig: Block diagram of Fibre optic communication system

A) Transmitter: Transmitter transmits message through information channel like Optical fibre in the
form of light wave. It consists of following parts.
1) Input Message: It is a original message (e.g. sound) to be transmitted.
2) Transducer: Transducer is a device which converts one form of energy into another form.
Here transducer (e.g. Microphone) converts Input Message (e.g. sound) into electric signal.
3) Modulator: The electric signal is then modulated and given to LASER diode (light source)
through Input coupler. Sometimes the amplifiers are also used as per need.
4) LASER diode: The laser diode converts electric signal into light.
5) Input Coupler: It gives the light wave from laser diode to optical fibre waveguide.
B) Information Channel: Optical fibre which is a waveguide for light wave acts as information
channel.
C) Receiver: It receives Optical signal (light) from information channel i.e. optical fibre and converts
light into original message. It consists of following parts.
1) Output Coupler: It receives the light wave from optical fibre waveguide and provide it to
photodiode.
2) Photodiode: It receives light and converts it into electric signal and provides it to
Demodulator.
3) Demodulator: The electric signal is then demodulated and given to Transducer (e.g.
Microphone) through Input coupler. Sometimes the amplifiers are also used as per need.
4) Transducer: Transducer is a device which converts one form of energy into another form.
Here transducer (e.g. Speaker) converts electric signal into original Message (e.g. sound).
5) Output Message: It is a original message (e.g. sound) is received from transducer.