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Unit-1: Mode Theory of Circular Waveguide

This document discusses mode theory for circular waveguides. It provides an overview of modes, explaining that light travels in distinct optical modes that remain constant in time. Modes are guided electromagnetic waves that can become cut off based on wavelength. Below the cutoff wavelength, a fiber supports multiple modes and is called multimode, while above it only supports one mode and is single mode. Maxwell's equations describe modes having electric and magnetic field components. Modes in optical fibers are transverse with the fields perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Higher order modes have more field maxima and cross the fiber axis at steeper angles.

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3K views16 pages

Unit-1: Mode Theory of Circular Waveguide

This document discusses mode theory for circular waveguides. It provides an overview of modes, explaining that light travels in distinct optical modes that remain constant in time. Modes are guided electromagnetic waves that can become cut off based on wavelength. Below the cutoff wavelength, a fiber supports multiple modes and is called multimode, while above it only supports one mode and is single mode. Maxwell's equations describe modes having electric and magnetic field components. Modes in optical fibers are transverse with the fields perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Higher order modes have more field maxima and cross the fiber axis at steeper angles.

Uploaded by

Rahul Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit-1

Lecture -8
Mode Theory of Circular Waveguide
Mode theory for Circular waveguide

a. Overview of modes
b. Summary of key modal concepts
c. Maxwell’s Equations
d. Waveguide Equations Wave Equations for Step Index Fibers
e. Modal Equation
f. Modes in Step-Index fiber
g. Linearly polarized modes
Overview of modes
The optical waveguide is the fundamental element that
interconnects the various devices of an optical integrated circuit.

Optical waves travel in the waveguide in distinct optical modes.

A mode, in this sense, is a spatial distribution of optical energy in


one or more dimensions that remains constant in time.
The mode theory uses electromagnetic wave behavior to describe
the propagation of light along a fiber.

A set of guided electromagnetic waves is called the modes of the


fiber.

For a given mode, a change in wavelength can prevent the mode


from propagating along the fiber.
If the mode is no longer bound to the fiber, this mode is said to
be cut off.

The wavelength at which a mode is cutoff is called the cutoff


wavelength for that mode.

However, an optical fiber is always able to propagate at least


one mode.

This mode is referred to as the fundamental mode of the fiber.

The fundamental mode can never be cut off.


The wavelength that prevents the next higher mode from
propagating is called the cutoff wavelength of the fiber.

An optical fiber that operates above the cutoff wavelength (at


a longer wavelength) is called a single mode fiber.

An optical fiber that operates below the cutoff wavelength is


called a multimode fiber
n a fiber, the propagation constant of a plane wave is a function
of the wave's wavelength and mode.

Maxwell's equations describe electromagnetic waves or modes as


having two components.

The two components are the electric field, E(x, y, z), and the
magnetic field, H(x, y, z).

The electric field, E, and the magnetic field, H, are at right angles
to each other.
Modes traveling in an optical fiber are said to be transverse.

The transverse modes, shown in Fig., propagate along the axis


of the fiber.

In TE modes, the electric field is perpendicular to the direction


of propagation.

The magnetic field is in the direction of propagation.


Another type of transverse mode is the transverse magnetic (TM)
mode.

TM modes are opposite to TE modes.

In TM modes, the magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction


of propagation.

The electric field is in the direction of propagation.

Fig. shows only TE modes.


CLADDING

CORE
The TE mode field patterns shown in Fig. indicate the order
of each mode.

The order of each mode is indicated by the number of field


maxima within the core of the fiber.

For example, TE0 has one field maxima.

The electric field is maximum at the center of the waveguide


and decays toward the core-cladding boundary.
TE 0 is considered the fundamental mode or the lowest order
standing wave.

As the number of field maxima increases, the order of the


mode is higher.

Generally, modes with more than a few (5-10) field maxima


are referred to as high-order modes.

The order of the mode is also determined by the angle the


wave-front makes with the axis of the fiber.
Fig. illustrates light rays as they travel down the fiber.

These light rays indicate the direction of the wave-fronts.

High-order modes cross the axis of the fiber at steeper angles.

Low-order and high-order modes are shown in Fig.

Low-order modes penetrate the cladding only slightly.


In low-order modes, the electric and magnetic fields are
concentrated near the center of the fiber.

In high-order modes, the electrical and magnetic fields are


distributed more toward the outer edges of the fiber.

The penetration of low-order and high-order modes into the


cladding region indicates that some portion is refracted out of
the core.
As the core and the cladding modes travel along the
fiber, mode coupling occurs.

Mode coupling is the exchange of power between two


modes.

Mode coupling to the cladding results in the loss of


power from the core modes.

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