Course Name: FIBER OPTICS

Semester and Year: SEMESTER TWO / 2019-2020

REG Number: 17RP00852

LECTURER: KANYESHEJA J.D

Date of Report Submitted: April 22, 2020
ASSIGNEMENT N0: ONE

YEAR 3,
ET A
 1. What is fiber optics and what makes it the best today in information
carrying capacity?
Fiber optic cable is a high-speed data transmission medium. It contains tiny glass or
plastic filaments that carry light beams. Digital data is transmitted through the cable
via rapid pulses of light. It is mostly used because of the following reasons;
it the best today in information carrying because they permit transmission over longer
distances and at higher bandwidths (data rates) than electrical cables.

2. Compare optical fiber with other transmission media

 Fiber optic cables have much greater than metals cables
 Optical fiber offers low power loss, which allows for longer transmission distances
 Flexible and easy to install in tight conduct
 Large capacity
 Size and weight
 Reliability and maintenance
 Security
Disadvantages of fiber optics compared to another transmission media

 Optical fiber cables have limited bend radius (about 30 mm). So, if they are
bent more, it might lead to some signal loss.
 Fiber splicing is a complicated procedure and requires skilled manpower to
achieve. If it is not done properly, there will be performance degradation.

3. An optical fiber has numerical aperture of 0.20 and a cladding refractive index of
1.59.
Determine:
a) the acceptance angle for the fiber in water which has a refractive
index of 1.33;
data:
NA=0.2 NO=1.33
 NA 0.2
the acceptance angle(𝛼)= sin−1( ) = sin−1( ) ≈ 8.65°
n0 1.33

b) the critical angle at the core-cladding interface

𝑁𝐴 = √ n 12−n 22
where n1= the index of refraction of the core glass, and
n2=the index of refraction of the cladding glass.
Thus, 𝑛1 = √(𝑁𝐴2 +𝑛2 2 )= √(0.22 +1.592 )= 1.602 ≈ 1.60
n2 1.59
the critical angle=(oc)=sin-1( ¿= sin-1( ¿=83.590
n1 1.60

c) Explain the types of optical fibers

Optic fiber can be classified as:
Based on refractive index profile
Number of modes transmitted through fiber
Tapered fiber
The main types are:
single mode and multimode
1. single mode
 Only one light is transmitted in the
fiber.
 Diameter ranges from 8.3 to 10
microns.
 It has Higher transmission rate.
 It is used for longer distance.
Characteristics of single
mode fiber
 Only one path is available.
 Core diameter is small
 No dispersion
 Higher band width (1000 MHz)
 Used for long haul communication
 Fabrication is difficult and costly
2. multimode
 In multimode fibers more than one
light transmitted at a time.
 Fiber diameter ranges from 50-to-
100 micron.
Multimode Fiber is divided into two types:
 Multimode Step-index Fiber: A
step-index fiber has a central core
with a uniform refractive index.
An outside cladding that also has
a uniform refractive index
surrounds the core;
 Multimode Graded-index Fiber:
In graded-index fiber, the index of
refraction in the core decreases
continuously between the axis and
the cladding. This causes light
 rays to bend smoothly as they
approach the cladding, rather
than reflecting abruptly from the
core-cladding boundary.

Q4. One of the targets in National Strategic Transformation (NST-1) is to be country of

knowledge based economy by 2024; explain how fiber optics technology will help
achieving this goal.

The base of NST1 builds on lessons learned, is to increases the economic extracted through
knowledge. As the below article mention, with the internet all thing will be possible, the
faster internet will be brought by fiber optics.
A BPO services development program will be established to capitalize on previous
investments in fiber optic. Interventions will include: leveraging Kigali Innovation City as a
mechanism to spur ICT services including BPOs, supporting universities and education
centers to upgrade skills related to BPO services…
Decision, is that the knowledge based on economic will be achieved through increasing the
internet all over the country. This internet will be transmitted with fiber optics