Fiber Optics Fundamentals - 1/11

Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University

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Fiber Optics Fundamentals
Surasak Sanguanpong
nguan@ku.ac.th
http://www.cpe.ku.ac.th/~nguan
Last updated: 11 July 2000
Fiber Optics Fundamentals - 2/11
Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Bending of Light Ray
n
2
of medium 2
n
1
of medium 1

i
incident

t
refracted

i
= angle of incidence

r
= angle of reflection

t
= angle of refraction

r
reflected
surface
boundary
refraction index : n = c/v
The surface represents a boundary between two media. Let
i
be the angle at
which the light wave intersects the boundary. Some of the light will reflect
back at an
r
=
i
and some will cross the boundary into the other medium.
Fiber Optics Fundamentals - 3/11
Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Snells Law
1
1
2
2
3
3
4 4
n
2
n
1
n
1
>n
2

i

t
n
1
sin
i
= n
2
sin
t

i
= sin
-1
n
2
/n
1
=
c

c
= critical angle
From Snells law, if
t
reach 90 ,
i
will equal to sin
-1
n
2
/n
1
. This
c
is called
critical angle of incidence. Any light rays that are incident at angles greater
than critical angle will reflect back into medium.
Fiber Optics Fundamentals - 4/11
Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Propagation Modes
d

Loss in cladding
Total reflection
M =
(n
1
)
2
-(n
2
)
2
2
2
M = the number of modes
d = core diameter (m)
= wavelength (m)
n
1
= refraction index of core
n
2
= refraction index of cladding
A fiber core is fairly thick relative to a wavelength of light and allow the light
to enter it at many difference angles. There is a finite number of angles at
which the rays reflect and propagate the length of the fiber. Each angle
defines a path or a mode.
Fiber Optics Fundamentals - 5/11
Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Fiber classification
Multimode stepped index
Electrical
input signal
Electrical
output signal
Multimode graded index
Single mode
wavelength : 1300,1550 nm
h2 h2
h1 h1
h1 h1
h2 h2
wavelength : 850,1300 nm
h2
h1
core/cladding
characteristics
There are basically two modes of a transmission in a fiber. A multimode fiber
has a number of paths in which light ray may travel. A single mode has a
light ray in one direction only.
Fibers are further classified by the refractive index profile of their core. They
can be either step index or graded index. Three main types of fibers are
multimode step-index fiber , multimode grades index fiber and single mode
fiber.
The refraction index of multimode step-index fiber is uniformly throughout
the core. The refraction index of multimode graded-index fiber is gradually
less dense), light travels radically outward it begins to bend back toward the
center, eventually reflecting back. Because the material also less dense, the
light travels faster. Reducing the core diameter to that of a single wavelength
(3-10 m) will let the light propagates along a one mode only.
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Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Loss in Glass Fibers
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
0.85 band 1.30 band 1.55 band
Wavelength (microns)
A
t
t
e
n
u
a
t
i
o
n
(
d
B
/
k
m
)
Because of the attenuation versus wavelength characteristics of glass optical
fiber, there are three wavelength ranges, or windows, preferred for
transmission.
With the first window at 850 nm, light sources and electronics can be made
from alloy semiconductors with Ga
1-x
Al
x
As.
The second window is around 1300 nm. Above this window there is a peak
attenuation due to absorbation of light by the hydroxyl (OH) ions trapped in
the fiber during processing. This window coincides with the point of
minimum chromatic dispersion of the fiber.
The fiber attains its greatest transparency at wavelengths around 1550 nm,
where attenuation decreases to only 0.2 dB per kilometer. Above 1600 nm, it
increases again due to absorbtion. [Powers,P. John, An Introduction to Fiber
Optic Systems, Aksen Assoc. Inc. Publishers, 1993]. Above 1600 nm, glass is
no longer transparent to infrared light. Instead, the light is absorbed and
converted to heat,
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Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Light Source
LED
Injection
Laser Diode
power
wavelength
LED
ILD
A light source such as a LED or a laser is placed at one end of the fiber. The
light source emit short but rapid pulses of light that enter the core at different
angles. The laser produce a very pure and narrow beam. It also has a
high-power output, allowing the light to propagated further that produced by
the LED. The LED produces less concentrated light consisting of many
wavelengths.
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Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Optical Fiber Comparison
Multimode Single mode
Light source LED/ILD ILD
Bandwidth >1 GHz/km up to 1000 GHz/km
Wavelength 850, 1300 1300,1550
core/cladding 62.5/125
*
8/125
Applications LAN, backbone Long distance, Telcom lines
* options with 50/125, 100/140
core
cladding
8/125 micron 62.5/125 micron
core
cladding
Standard fibers are categorized as single mode or multimode. Single mode
fibers are appropriate for long distance with high data rate. Multimode fiber
are for shorter distance or local area networks. The most popular one is
62.5/125 type.
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Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Typical Fiber Cable
Optical
cladding
Plastic coating Optical
core
Single core
Multicore
Materials for cladding and
core:
glass cladding/glass core
plastic cladding/glass core
plastic cladding/plastic core
The major components of a fiber-optics cable are the core, cladding, buffer,
strength, strength member and the jacket.
The core is made of glass or plastic. Plastic is easier to manufacture and use
but works shorter distance than glass. The core can be anywhere from about 2
to several hundred microns (1 micron = 10
-6
m).
The core and cladding are actually manufacture as a single unit. The cladding
is usually of plastic with a lower index of reflection than core.
Fiber Optics Fundamentals - 10/11
Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
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Cable Structures
core
cladding
fiber
Color Coded
Jacket
Strength
Elements
Outer Jacket
Central
Strength
Elements
Fiber cables are normally bundled with several cores e.g. 2, 4,6 ,8 ,12,24,
36 or 72 (depends on manufacturing).
Fiber Optics Fundamentals - 11/11
Applied Network Research Group Department of Computer Engineering, Kasetsart University
11/11
Fiber in use
Plenums or non-plenums
plenum cable has a fire-resistant jacket, which will not burn,
smoke or
give off toxic fumes when expose to heat
Riser cables
cable that runs vertically; e.g. between floors in a building
Indoor or Outdoor
Indoor cable used in building. Outdoor cable used in
underground,
directed buries, and aerial applications between building.
Outdoor cable is fill with a compound formulated to protected the fibers from
environmental damage such as moisture.