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Single Mode Step Index fiber

 The advantage of the propagation of a single mode
Chapter 2 within an optical fiber is the signal dispersion caused
by the delay differences between different modes in
a multimode fiber may be avoided. Thus achieving a
Light Propagation In large BW.
Optical Fiber
 In describing SMF, a parameter known as
Dr. Amit Rathi mode-field diameter (MFD) is used. In a SMF light
travels mostly within the core and partially within
the cladding.
MFD is a function of the wavelength.

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Illustration of Mode-Field Diameter (MFD)

• Mode-field diameter is a measure of

the spot size or beam width of light
propagating in a single-mode fiber.
• Mode-field diameter is a function of
source wavelength, fiber core radius,
and fiber refractive index profile.
• The vast majority of the optical power
propagates within the fiber core, and a
small portion propagates in the
cladding near the core (Figure 1)

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 where 2w0 (called the spot size) - is the full width of the
far-field distribution.
 For calculation simplicity the exact field distribution can
be fitted to a Gaussian function-

 where r is the radius and

 E0 is the field at zero radius, as shown in Fig. 2.28.
 Then the MFD is given by the 1/e2 width of the optical
power.

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Example

V Spot Size increase

Power Extends farther into clad
Power Losses
Manufacturers therefore design with V values-----
2.0 (to prevent high cladding loss) < V < 2.4 (to avoid the
possibility of having more than one mode in the fiber for Single
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Multimode Step Index Fiber

 Multimode step index fibers allow the propagation of a

finite number of guided modes along the channel.

 The number of guided modes is dependent upon the

physical parameters :

1-Relative refractive index difference,

2- core radius (n1) of the fiber
3- The wavelength of the transmitted light.

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Multimode Graded Index Fibers (GRIN)

 it can be shown that the total number of guided modes (or GRIN fibers do not have a constant refractive index in the
mode volume) Ms , for the step index fiber is related to the v core but a decreasing core index n(r) with a radial distance
value for the fiber by approximate expression: from a maximum value of n1 at the axis to a constant value
n2 beyond the core radius, a in the cladding.
M s ≡ V2 Eq. (2.61
2 This index variation may b presented as:

Which allows an estimate of the number of guided modes

propagating in a particular multimode step index fiber.
Here, r is the radial distance from the fiber axis, a is the core
radius, n1 and n2 are the refractive indices at the core and the
Return cladding, and the parameter a defines the shape of the index
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 ∆ is the relative refractive index difference and α is the

profile parameter which gives the refractive index profile of
the fiber core.

The equation above is a convenient method of expressing

the refractive index profile of the fiber core as a variation of α
allows representation of Step index profile when α = ∞, a
parabolic profile when α = 2 and a triangular profile when α =
1.

This range of refractive index profile is illustrated in Fig

2.7.

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Therefore, it is possible to determine fiber parameters which will give

single mode operation.

For multimode graded index fibers, the total number of the guided
modes, Mg is also related to the V value for the fiber by approximate
expression

 Fiber manufacturers typically choose a parabolic refractive index

profile given by α = 2.0. In this case, Mg = V 2/4, which is half the
number of modes supported by a step-index fiber (for which a = α)
that has the same V value, as Eq. (2.61) shows.

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Propagation in a Graded index fiber: showing a decreasing

→The graded index profiles which at present produce the
best results for multimode optical propagation have a
near parabolic refractive index profile core with α = 2.
number of refractive index changes n1 to n6 for the fiber axis to the
cladding. Result in a gradual change in the direction of the ray,
rather than the sharp change that occurs in a step index fiber

→A multimode graded index fiber with a parabolic index

profile core is illustrated in fig 2.8. It may be observed that
the meridional rays shown appear to follow curved paths
through the fiber core.

→Using the concepts of geometric optics, the gradual

decrease in refractive index from the center of the core creates
many refractions of the rays as they are effectively incident
on a large number of high to low index interfaces.
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♣ Graded index fiber therefore accept less light than

corresponding step index fibers with the same relative
refractive index difference.

♣To support single mode transmission in a graded index

fiber, the normalized frequency is:

Figure 2.10 Two types of fiber: (Top) step index fiber; (Bottom)
Graded index fiber
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 Q. Calculate the number of modes of an optical fiber

For the parabolic profile, the numerical aperture is given by: (Multi mode step Index) having diameter of 50 μm, n1=
α 1.48, n2= 1.46 and λ = 0.82 μm.

This shown that the NA is a function of the radial distance

from the fiber axis (r/a)

The NA drops to zero at the edge of the core (r = a ).

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 Q. A fiber has normalized frequency V = 26.6 and the

operating wavelength is 1300nm. If the radius of the fiber
core is 25 μm. Compute the numerical aperture.

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Q. A multimode step index fiber with a core diameter of 80

μm and a relative index difference of 1.5 % is operating at a
wavelength of 0.85 μm. If the core refractive index is 1.48,
estimate the normalized frequency for the fiber and number of
guided modes.

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 Q. A step index multimode fiber with a numerical

aperture of a 0.20 supports approximately 1000 modes
at an 850 nm wavelength.
 i) What is the diameter of its core?
 ii) How many modes does the fiber support at 1320
nm?
 iii) How many modes does the fiber support at 1550
nm?

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i) Number of modes is given by,

1550

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 Q. A multimode step index optical fiber with relative

refractive index difference1.5% and core refractive index
1.48 is to be used for single mode operation. If the
operating wavelength is 0.85μm calculate the maximum
core diameter.

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https://sites.google.com/site/ganeshbilla/

Single mode Fiber vs Multimode Fiber Step-index fiber vs Graded-index fiber

Step-index fiber Graded-index fiber
Single mode Fiber Multimode Fiber
RI of Step-index fiber is RI of graded-index fiber is
Single mode fiber carries single ray of light Multimode fiber carries multiple spatial
modes
Do not exhibit dispersion Limited by modal dispersion
Have higher bandwidth Limited bandwidth
Single mode fibers are cheap Multimode fibers are costly
Are better at retaining the fidelity of light Are better at retaining the fidelity of light
for long haul distance for shorter distance only
Application: submarine cable system Application: Telephone links

Modal dispersion is found Solves the problem of modal dispersion

Used for imaging and illumination Used for data communication and
networks over moderate distances(~2km)
No. of modes = V2/2 No. of modes = V2/4
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A step-index multimode fiber with a NA of 0.20 supports approximately 1000 modes

at an 850nm wavelength. What is the diameter of its core? How many modes the
fiber support at 1320nm and 1550nm

V  2  a ( NA ) / 
a  V  / 2  ( NA )
M V 2
/2
V  2M
d  2a

d= 60.49um
At 1320nm, V=28.78, M=414
At 1550nm, V=24.51, M=301

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