Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18

1/17
Theory of Optical Modes in Step Index Fibers


Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
2/17
inside the core
inside the cladding
core
clad
n
n
n

r z
r z
E E r E E z
H H r H H z

= + +
= + +

We find the modes by looking for solutions of:

( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
2 2
0 0
2 2
2
2
0
2 2
2
2
0
2

0
r
r r
r
z z
E
E
E nk E E nk E r
r r
E
E
E nk E
r r
E nk E z

| |
+ = +
|

\ .
| |
+ + +
|

\ .
+ + =



The equations have a simple physical interpretation.


(from Pollock)
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
3/17



Since the equations for E
r
and E

are coupled, we first

solve for E
z
. H
z
is a solution of the same Helmholtz
equation and its solutions have the same form. We find all
other field components from E
z
and H
z
using Maxwells
equations.

We look for solutions of the form:

( ) ( ) ( )
z
E R r Z z =

(from Pollock)
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
4/17
In the core we find:

( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
2
2 2
0
where , and 0,1,2...
j z j z
j j
core
Z z ae be
ce de
R r eJ r fN r
n k

= +
= +
= +
= =


We can simplify these noting that:

Often we have only forward going waves (b=0)
The N

(r) solution goes to minus infinity at r = 0 so it

is unphysical (f=0)


We need both the e
j
and e
-j
terms to describe the
dependence of the eigenmodes, but we can limit the
discussion to the e
j
solution with the understanding
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
5/17
that a mode with e
-j
dependence can be found from
the e
j
mode by rotating the fiber.

Then we can write:

( )
( )
. .
. .
j j z
z
j j z
z
E AJ r e e c c
H BJ r e e c c

= +
= +


In the cladding region we find:

( )
( )
. .
. .
j j z
z
j j z
z
E CK r e e c c
H DK r e e c c

= +
= +


where
( )
2
2 2
0 clad
n k =



From Pollock and Lipson
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
6/17

From Izuka


Characteristic Equation for an Optical Fiber

We insist on continuity of the tangential field components
E
z
, E

, H
z
, and H

and find:

( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
2
2 2
2 2 2
2 2 2 2
0 0
1 1
core clad
a
J a K a k n J a k n K a
J a K a J a K a






| |
+
|
\ .
| || |
= + +
| |
| |
\ .\ .


Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
7/17
This characteristic equation can be used with:

( ) ( )
2 2
2 2 2
0
, where
core clad
V a a V k a n n = + =

to find values for , , , and n
eff
.


Meridional Modes (=0):

For modes that correspond to bouncing meridional rays,
there is no dependence. Modes are of two types TE
0

and TM
0
with =1,2, .

( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2 2 2
0 0
If we set this term =0, If we set this term =0,
0 and this is a TE mode 0 and this is a TM mode
z r z r
core clad
E E H H
J a K a k n J a k n K a
J a K a J a K a




= = = =
| || |
+ +
| |
| |
\ .\ .

0 =




Skew Modes (0):

These modes have radial structure. The modes have both
E
z
0 and H
z
0 and thus are called hybrid modes. The
hybrid modes are of two types labeled EH

and HE

,
depending on the whether E
z
or H
z
is dominant,
respectively.
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
8/17
Field Distributions in Optical Fibers

Lets examine the mode profiles in the plane z=0:

TE Modes: TM Modes:

( )
( )
1 0
1 0
0
0
r
r
E
E J r
H J r
H

( )
( )
1 0
1 0
0
0
r
r
E J r
E
H
H J r

There is no azimuthal variation for either type of mode.

Example, TM
01
Mode:



Figure 11.21. All figures (unless noted) and the table in this lecture are from
Elements of Photonics, Volume II.

J
1
(
01
r) has a zero at the origin and one maximum in the
core.
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
9/17

EH

Modes:

( )
( )
( )
( )
1
1
1
1
cos
sin
sin
cos
r
r
E J r
E J r
H J r
H J r








+
+
+
+

HE

Modes:

( )
( )
( )
( )
1
1
1
1
cos
sin
sin
cos
r
r
E J r
E J r
H J r
H J r

Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
10/17
Example - the HE
21
mode:

( )
( )
( )
( )
1 21
1 21
1 21
1 21
cos2
sin2
sin2
cos2
r
r
E J r
E J r
H J r
H J r

E is purely radial for = 0, /2, , and 3/2.
E is purely azimuthal for = /4, 3/4, 5/4, and 7/4.
H looks like E rotated counter clockwise by /4.
J
1
(K
21
r) has a zero at the origin and one maximum in the
core.

Field is purely
radial here
Field is purely
azimuthal here
Fields are
zero here
Fields have
a maximum
here

Field is purely
radial here
Field is purely
azimuthal here
Fields are
zero here
Fields have
a maximum
here

Figure 11.21.
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
11/17
Linearly Polarized (LP) Optical Fiber Modes



It is customary in the theory of optical fibers to make the
weakly guiding approximation n
1
= n
2
(the refractive
index of the core equal the refractive index of the cladding)
because:

1. It simplifies the characteristic equation for the modes.

2. It leads to the concept of linearly polarized modes.

In the weakly guiding approximation the large steps in
Figure 11.18 become not jagged as modes become
degenerate (i.e. they have the same propagation
constant). The degenerate modes can be added together
to form new modes.
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
12/17
Can we construct a set of linearly polarized modes?

Yes. This is good because polarized light from a laser
would excite these superpositions of true fiber modes.

HE
11
is already linearly polarized.



Figure 11.21 in Elements of Photonics, Volume II.


Other LP modes can be constructed from sums of the EH
and HE modes that have the same propagation constant.


Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
13/17

+

=

Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
14/17


Construction and Labeling Rules:

LP
0
= HE
1

LP
1
= HE
2
+ TE
0
or HE
2
+ TM
0

LP
m
= HE
m+1,
+ EH
m-1,
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
15/17
Fiber Mode Degeneracy and Number of Modes

Degeneracy of the Hybrid Modes


From Electromagnetic Theory for Microwaves and Optoelectronics, Keqian Zhang and Dejie Li

The TE
0

and TM
0
modes are not degenerate.

The hybrid EH

and HE

modes are two-fold degenerate.

Degeneracy of the LP Modes

The LP
0
modes are the HE
1
modes, so they are two-fold
degenerate.
Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
16/17

The LP
1
modes are formed by summing HE
2
+ TE
0
or
HE
2
+ TM
0
, so they are four-fold degenerate.

The LP
m
modes with m > 1 are formed by summing
HE
m+1,
+ EH
m-1,
, so they are four-fold degenerate.


Two of the 4 LP
21
modes that can be formed from HE
31

and EH
11
modes.

From Electromagnetic Theory for Microwaves and Optoelectronics, Keqian Zhang and Dejie Li

Photonics Communications Engineering, OPTI 500B, Lectures 17 and 18
17/17


From Introduction to Fiber Optics, Ghatak and Thyagarajan


Number of Modes

For large V, the number of LP or hybrid of modes is
4V
2
/
2
.