Optics Communications 345 (2015) 120124

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Optics Communications
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/optcom

Discussion

Simplied study of guided modes in plasma cladded step-index optical

ber
A.K. Mishra a,n, O.N. Singh IIb
a
b

Centre for Applied Physics, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, India

Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, India

art ic l e i nf o

a b s t r a c t

Article history:
Received 5 October 2014
Received in revised form
22 December 2014
Accepted 4 February 2015
Available online 7 February 2015

In this paper, the effect of plasma cladding on the modal dispersion characteristics of guided modes is
explored. The dispersion relation of guided modes which is derived employing the usual boundary
conditions, show a strong dependency on the operating frequency. The numerical aperture of plasma
cladded light guide decreases on increasing the operating frequency which is quite contrary to conventional dielectric optical bers. Our study further revealed that this decrease in numerical aperture is
more prompt at lower frequency and hence, an unusual dispersion characteristic is displayed by hybrid
modes. The transverse modes display the usual dispersion characteristics with only exceptions that these
modes occur in pairs with approximately equal cutoff frequency. We hope that the study will be quite
useful to investigate the behavior of high power laser beam propagating through air core or hollow
bers.
& 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords:
Modal dispersion
Hybrid modes
Numerical aperture
Plasma density
Normalized frequency

1. Introduction
The creation of plasma in laboratory for practical applications
was a great challenging task until the availability of high power
lasers. Mother Nature has provided a good deal of plasma state in
our upper atmosphere but unfortunately, such a peculiar state of
matter does not exist in our lower atmosphere due to high density
and pressure of gases [1]. Plasma is basically the collection of
charged particles in equilibrium state which reects the distinct
propagation characteristics of waves propagating through it. A
cylindrical plasma channel can be created by passing an ultraviolet
laser beam through a low pressure gas background. The application of such a plasma channel as a guiding medium is restricted
since the permittivity of plasma is always smaller than that of a
neutral gas. An important breakthrough was noted in the guiding
mechanism of waveguides using plasma as media when Shen et al.
[2,3] pointed out a new type of waveguide in which the core of the
waveguide is vacuum surrounded with cylindrical coaxial plasma
channel. Their study showed that in contrast to dielectric waveguides in which the high frequency limitations do exist on the
single mode operation, there are no such limitations for a plasma
cladded waveguide since the V-number is independent on operating frequency. Also, the numerical aperture decreases on
n

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: onkar_akm@yahoo.co.in (A.K. Mishra).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2015.02.006
0030-4018/& 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

increasing the frequency while the V-number surprisingly remains

constant. In spite of all these peculiarities, the practical applicability of these waveguides was ruled out since these are unsteady
and their working parameters cannot be adjusted easily [4]. As a
remedy to above cited constraints, several researchers [510]
proposed a novel type of plasma cladding waveguide in which the
central guiding region is a dielectric surrounded by unguiding
cylindrical plasma channel and reported some interesting results.
We, hereafter call it as plasma cladding dielectric waveguide. Some
researchers [1113] also investigated the effect of plasma loading
on the slow-wave properties of traveling wave tube and investigated the amplications and losses arising out due to interactions between plasma and waves.
Considering the above mentioned investigations, we propose
for a concise study of modal dispersion characteristics of plasma
cladded optical waveguide in which the guiding region (core) is a
dielectric. In order to avoid damping loss which arises due to
electron ion collisions, we consider isotropic and low density
plasma. The index prole in both the regions of ber is step like.
Although, an all-dielectric optical ber is well materialized and
developed, the motivations behind such a waveguide structure
stems from the considerations of high power laser beams passing
through hollow core bers. Also, compared to conventional dielectric bers, the plasma cladded ber offers the tunability of
refractive index and hence, the tunability of numerical aperture
(NA) which is manifested by either a change in operating frequency or a change in plasma density. This tunability of refractive

A.K. Mishra, O.N. Singh II / Optics Communications 345 (2015) 120124

index may be quite promising and may affect the entire propagation properties.

J 1 (ua)
K + 1 (wa)
1
1

+

+

w aK (wa)
a u2
w2
u aJ (ua)

J 1 (ua)

K + 1 (wa)
n 2
n2
n12
k2
+ n 22
1 + 2

2
2
u
a
J
(
ua
)
w
a
K
(
wa
)
a

w
u

2. Theoretical modeling
We begin our study on the reasonable assumption that the
thickness of plasma channel is so large that it can be considered to
extend innitely in transverse direction. Further, the density of
plasma is sufciently low and homogeneous so that the assumptions specic to cold plasma is retained. The present investigation
focuses on the situation where the plasma cladding is loss less as
this is also a very interesting problem that needs detailed investigations. The detailed discussions about the characteristics of
wave propagation through lossy plasma could be retrieved in Ref
[1]. When the plasma density (n) is small, the interactions among
electrons and ions leading to losses are insignicant, but when the
plasma density is sufciently high, these interactions could not be
ignored. Moreover, it is highly difcult to conne high density
plasma due to strong electronion collisions without the application of high magnetic eld. The waveguide structure (Fig. 1) is
cylindrically symmetric and the wave propagates in z direction.
Ignoring the effect of electron and ion collisions, the refractive
index of plasma media is expressible by the following formula [1]

p2
= (1 2)
n22 = 1

e2 n
me 0

(1)

(2)

The constants e, n, me are the charge, density and mass of the

electrons respectively and 0 is the permittivity of free space.
We use the cylindrical polar coordinates (r, , z) in which the zaxis corresponds to the direction of wave propagation. Instead of
deriving a general characteristic equation for a plasma cladded
optical ber, we present here the separate dispersion relations for
transverse and hybrid modes so that more realistic description of
guided modes can be presented. T he derivation of dispersion relation is a usual mathematical exercise which involves the deduction of eld components (Table 1) in core and cladding regions
separately. Using appropriate boundary conditions [14,15], the
matching of eld components at the corecladding inter-face result the characteristic equation. In contrast to metallic waveguides
in which only the transverse modes are supported, the transverse
symmetric modes (TE and TM) in dielectric waveguides occur only
for special case of radial mode order ( 0). For non-zero value of
radial mode order, hybrid modes (HE and EH) modes exist. Using
the Bessel function identities [16] and manipulating a little bit of
algebra, the dispersion relation for HE modes follow

u2 = k 2n12 2 and
w 2 = 2 k 2n22 = 2 k 2 (1 2)
Similarly, the dispersion relation for EH modes follow
J + 1 (ua)
K 1 (wa)
1
1

+
+
+

w a K (wa)
a u
w2
u a J (ua)

J + 1 (ua)

K 1 (wa)
n 2
n2
k2
n12
+ n 22
+ 1 + 2

u a J (ua)
w a K (wa)
a u2
w2

2
1
2 2 1
+

=0
2
2
2

a
u
w

(4)

The dispersion relation for cylindrically symmetric TE and TM

modes can be found out by setting 0 in the general dispersion
relation for plasma cladded optical ber [6]. Using Bessel function
identities [16], the dispersion relations of TE and TM modes respectively follow

J1 (u a)
J0 (u a)
J1 (u a)
J0 (u a)

u K1 (w a)
=0
w K 0 (u a)

(5)

u (1 2) K1 (w a)
=0
w
n12 K0 (u a)

(6)

It is clearly evident that the dispersion relations (3)(6) are

strongly dependent on the plasma frequency. The effect of plasma
cladding is introduced in the dispersion relation through the
plasma parameter () which is dened by relation (1).

3. Results and discussions

Dispersions are one of the major constraints limiting the speed
of data transmission and usable bandwidth, so, we plan in our
forthcoming discussions to remain concentrate on the modal dispersion characteristics of guided modes based on wave optics
approach. To draw the useful information from dispersion Eqs.
(3)(6), we dene below two other important ber parametersnormalized propagation constant (b) and normalized frequency
(V):

b=

Fig. 1. Plasma cladded cylindrical optical ber.

(3)

where J and K represents the Bessel function of rst kind and

modied Bessel function of second kind respectively. is the
longitudinal propagation constant and a is the radius of core. The
use of appropriate Bessel functions as a representative of eld
variations in the core and cladding regions of ber is well justied
[14] and quite common due to their more familiarity and their
detailed descriptions can be readily had from any standard text
books on ber optics or special mathematical functions. The u and
w represent transverse core and cladding parameters dened
below:

Dielectric
Plasma

2
1
2 2 1
+

=0
a 2 u2
w2

where the plasma parameter () is the ratio of plasma frequency

(p) and operating frequency (). It is fairly apparent from Eq. (1)
that when the operating frequency () is much higher compared
to plasma frequency (p), then = p/ is near to zero and hence
the refractive index of plasma tends to its constant value. The
plasma frequency is given by the relation

p =

121

( 2 k2n22 )
k 2 (n12 n22 )

V = k a n12 n22 = a u2 + w 2

122

A.K. Mishra, O.N. Singh II / Optics Communications 345 (2015) 120124

Table 1
The axial components of the electric and magnetic elds in the core and cladding region of circular waveguide.
Core region (r

a)

Cladding region (r

E z1 = A J (u r) e j

E z2 = C K (w r) e j

Hz1 = B J (u r) e j

Hz2 = D K (w r) e j

{A u J (u r) +
{A J (u r) B
{B u J (u r) A
{B J (u r) + A

Er 1 =

j
u2

E 1 =

j
u2

Hr 1 =

j
u2

H 1 =

j
u2

j
B
J (u
r

j
r

u
J (u

r) e j

}
J (u r) } e

j 1
J (u
r

u 1

j
r

r) e j

r)

e j
j

Using Eq. (1), the relation for light gathering capacity (NA) of
the ber under investigation can be expressed as

NA =

n12 n22 =

{C w K (w r) + D
{C K (w r) D
{D w K (w r) C
{D K (w r) + C

w2

E 2 =

j
w2

Hr 2 =

j
w2

H 2 =

j
w2

j
r

w
K (w

j
r

j
K (w
r

r) e j

j 2
K (w
r

w 2
K (w

r) e j

}
r) } e

r) e j
j

(11)

(n12 1) + 2

0.8

(21)
(12)

0.6

0.4

a
n12 n22
c

0.2

Using Eq. (1) and taking the value of refractive index of vacuum,
above equation simplies to

0.0

p2
a
a
= p
1 1
V=

2
c
c

10

V
Fig. 3. Dispersion curve of some HE Modes. Core radius a 5.0 m, p 1.0 GHz and
0.11.0 PHz. The numbers in small brackets represent the mode index.

Clearly, this relation is independent on operating frequency.

Using Eqs. (5) and (6), the dispersion curve is drawn for lowest
order transverse symmetric modes. The dispersion curve (Fig. 2)
displays the usual dispersion characteristics as the dielectric ber
does except the existence of modes in pairs with approximately
same cutoff frequency which is in agreement of the work of Mishra et al. [6].
The dispersion nature of hybrid modes (Figs. 34) is quite
unusual which can be attributed as follows. From Eq. (1), it is fairly
1.0

Er 2 =

1.0

From this relation it is apparently evident that the NA varies

with operating frequency and hence a variation in acceptance
angle. Thus the frequency response of conventional dielectric bers and plasma cladding ber is quite dissimilar. Moreover, for a
vacuum or air media, the refractive index is unity. If such a media
is surrounded with low density plasma, then the dimensionless V
number dened above can be expressed as

V=

> a)

apparent that when is increased above p, the value of decreases up to some extent and hence, n2 increases. This increase in
n2 leads to the corresponding decrease in numerical aperture (NA)
and hence a substantial decrease in V. This decrease in V physically
represents the reduction in the number of guided modes [15].
Further, when becomes sufcient large compared to p, the
ratio approaches to zero. As a result n2 E 1.0 and hence, NA tends
1.0

TE Mode
0.8

0.6

0.6

0.8

TM Mode

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.0

0.0
0

10

12

Fig. 2. Dispersion curve of lowest order transverse modes. Core radius a 5.0 m, n1 1.2, 0, p 1.0 GHz and 0.11.0 PHz.

10

12

A.K. Mishra, O.N. Singh II / Optics Communications 345 (2015) 120124

1.0
n = 3.15 104
(11)

0.8

c 2V 2 + 2a2 (1 n12 )
a2

(7)

If we take the core of the ber to be vacuum (n1 1.0), then this
relation reduces in the form expressed by Shen [2]. Taking the
numerical values of parameters a 5.0 m, 1.0 PHz, V 2.405,
c 3.0  108 m/s and n1 1.20, the maximum plasma density permissible for the restoration of single mode operation comes out to
be n E1027 m  3. Thus at such a high plasma density, the interaction of electrons and ions cannot be ignored and the assumption of
cold plasma becomes invalid. Thus, under such conditions, for the
restoration of cold plasma assumptions, the waveguide should be
excited at lower operating frequency or the value of NA and the
dimension of core should be optimized.

(21)
(12)

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

123

4. Conclusions

10

V
Fig. 4. Dispersion curve of some EH Modes. Core radius a 5.0 m, p 1.0 GHz and
0.11.0 PHz. The numbers in small brackets represent the mode index.

to its constant value. Thus, by further increasing , NA remains

constant and only V-number increases as it happens in dielectric
bers. Thus, whereas in the conventional dielectric bers, on increasing the operating frequency, the NA remains constant and
only V number increases, but in case of plasma cladding optical
ber, the NA decreases and hence, a moderate decrease in V
number [3]. This property may be quite useful and opens the
opportunity of its possible application as a mode limiter or mode
suppressor. Furthermore, throughout our analysis of dispersion of
guided modes, we have considered to be greater than p due to
following reasons. When the ber is excited at a frequency smaller
than p, the RI of plasma media (n2) becomes complex and it goes
to undened value when approaches zero. Under such conditions, the launched optical pulses are reected back and beams
may rigorously be coupled to the waveguide which is not desired
at al. This property is quite similar to the behavior of metals at
high frequency [17].
The plasma as a conning region can not be considered in
guided wave systems due to forthcoming reasons. The wave propagation in plasma cladded optical ber takes place through the
same mechanism as it happens in dielectric waveguides-total internal reection phenomenon (TIR). The requirement of TIR is
essential only for higher order modes which propagate in zig-zag
or skew fashion [15] and for the transverse symmetric modes
which propagate approximately along the waveguide axis, it is not
required to be satised. For the existence of TIR, the guiding region
must be surrounded by a media with lower refractive index (RI).
Now, since it is fairly evident form Eq. (1) that the maximum
possible real value of refractive index of plasma is 1.0 (equal to the
RI of air or vacuum) when approaches to zero. Under such circumstances, the plasma cannot be a guiding medium in optical
ber since no naturally occurring materials have RI lower than
unity.
Further, the operation of plasma cladded optical ber as a
single mode waveguide is different from conventional single mode
dielectric waveguides. The single mode operation of plasma cladded waveguide depends not only on ber dimension and operating frequency but also on the plasma density [2]. Using the standard values of physical constants, the plasma density in terms of
V-number can be expressed by the following relation

A separate dispersion relation of plasma cladded step-index

optical ber has been derived for hybrid and transverse modes.
The dispersion curves display a strong dependence on operating
frequency. At low frequencies, the nature of dispersion curves of
hybrid modes is unusual and is quite different from dielectric bers. Also, the numerical aperture of ber decreases on increasing
the operating frequency and at sufciently high frequency it approaches its constant maximum value. This property enables us to
select plasma cladded ber with relatively larger core dimension
and as a mode limiter or mode suppressor. Thus, the frequency
response of plasma cladded bers is quite different from conventional dielectric bers. Moreover, serving as a slow-wave structure
the plasma cladded waveguide can be very promising in Cherenkov radiation and oscillation processes by the synchronous interaction between a slow-electromagnetic wave and a charged
particle beam operating in microwave, millimeter and sub-millimeter frequency ranges [5].

Acknowledgment
A.K.M. thanks to Dr. A.K. Tripathi of Department of Physics, IIT
(BHU), Varanasi, India for his useful discussions during the preparation of manuscript. Authors are also thankful to anonymous
reviewers for their valuable suggestions.

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