BE (E&TC) BCS (404190) Credits: 04

UNIT-I: Light wave System Components

ONE MARK MCQ

1. Multimode step index fiber has

a) Large core diameter & large numerical aperture
b) Large core diameter and small numerical aperture
c) Small core diameter and large numerical aperture
d) Small core diameter & small numerical aperture

Answer: a
Explanation: Multimode step-index fiber has large core diameter and large numerical aperture. These
parameters provides efficient coupling to inherent light sources such as LED’s.

2. A typically structured glass multimode step index fiber shows as variation of attenuation in range of
a) 1.2 to 90 dB km-1at wavelength 0.69μm
b) 3.2 to 30 dB km-1at wavelength 0.59μm
c) 2.6 to 50 dB km-1at wavelength 0.85μm
d) 1.6 to 60 dB km-1at wavelength 0.90μm

Answer: c
Explanation: A multimode step index fibers show an attenuation variation in range of 2.6 to 50dBkm-1. The
wide variation in attenuation is due to the large differences both within and between the two overall
preparation methods i.e. melting and deposition.

3.A multimode step index fiber has a large core diameter of range
a) 100 to 300 μm
b) 100 to 300 nm
c) 200 to 500 μm
d) 200 to 500 nm

Answer: a
Explanation: A multimode step index fiber has a core diameter range of 100 to 300μm. This is to facilitate
efficient coupling to inherent light sources.

4. Multimode step index fibers have a bandwidth of

a) 2 to 30 MHz km
b) 6 to 50 MHz km
c) 10 to 40 MHz km
d) 8 to 40 MHz km
 Answer: b
Explanation: Multimode step index fibers have a bandwidth of 6 to 50 MHz km. These fibers with this
bandwidth are best suited for short -haul, limited bandwidth and relatively low-cost application.

5. Multimode graded index fibers are manufactured from materials with

a) Lower purity
b) Higher purity than multimode step index fibers.
c) No impurity
d) Impurity as same as multimode step index fibers.
Answer: b
Explanation: Multimode graded index fibers have higher purity than multimode step index fiber. To reduce
fiber losses, these fibers have more impurity.

6.The performance characteristics of multimode graded index fibers are

a) Better than multimode step index fibers.
b) Same as multimode step index fibers.
c) Lesser than multimode step index fibers
d) Negligible
Answer: a
Explanation: Multimode graded index fibers use a constant grading factor. Performance characteristics of
multimode graded index fibers are better than those of multimode step index fibers due to index graded and
lower attenuation.

7.Multimode graded index fibers have overall buffer jackets same as multimode step index fibers but have
core diameters
a) Larger than multimode step index fibers.
b) Smaller than multimode step index fibers.
c) Same as that of multimode step index fibers.
d) Smaller than single mode step index fibers.
Answer: b
Explanation: Multimode graded index fibers have smaller core diameter than multimode step index fibers. A
small core diameter helps the fiber gain greater rigidity to resist bending.

8.Multimode graded index fibers with wavelength of 0.85μm have numerical aperture of 0.29 have
core/cladding diameter of
a) 62.5 μm/125 μm
b) 100μm/140 μm
c) 85 μm/ 125 μm
d) 50 μm/ 125μm
Answer: b
Explanation: Multimode graded index fibers with numerical aperture 0.29 having a core / cladding diameter
of 100μm/ 140μm. They provide high coupling frequency LED’s at a wavelength of 0.85 μm and have low
cost. They are also used for short distance application.
9.Multimode graded index fibers use incoherent source only. State whether the following statement is true or
false.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Explanation: Multimode graded index fibers are used for short haul and medium to high bandwidth
applications. Small haul applications require LEDs and low accuracy lasers. Thus either incoherent or
incoherent sources like LED’s or injection laser diode are used.

10. In single mode fibers, the most beneficial index profile is

a) Step index
b) Graded index
c) Step and graded index
d) Coaxial cable
Answer: b
Explanation: In single mode fibers, graded index profile is more beneficial as compared to step index.
This is because graded index profile provides dispersion-modified-single mode fibers.

11. The fibers mostly not used nowadays for optical fiber communication system are
a) Single mode fibers
b) Multimode step fibers
c) Coaxial cables
d) Multimode graded index fibers
Answer: a
Explanation: Single mode fibers are used to produce polarization maintaining fibers which make them
expensive. Also the alternative to them are multimode fibers which are complex but accurate. So, single-
mode fibers are not generally utilized in optical fiber communication.

12. Single mode fibers allow single mode propagation; the cladding diameter must be at least
a) Twice the core diameter
b) Thrice the core diameter
c) Five times the core diameter
d) Ten times the core diameter

Answer: d
Explanation: The cladding diameter in single mode fiber must be ten times the core diameter. Larger ratios
contribute to accurate propagation of light. These dimension ratios must be there so as to avoid losses from
the vanishing fields.

13. A fiber which is referred as non-dispersive shifted fiber is

a) Coaxial cables
b) Standard single mode fibers
c) Standard multimode fibers
d) Non zero dispersion shifted fibers
Answer: b
Explanation: A standard single mode fiber having step index profile is known as non-dispersion shifted
fiber. As these fibers have a zero dispersion wavelength of 1.31μm and so are preferred for single-
wavelength transmission in O-band.

14. Standard single mode fibers (SSMF) are utilized mainly for operation in
a) C-band
b) L-band
c) O-band
d) C-band and L-band
Answer: c

Explanation: SSMFs are utilized for operation in O-band only. It shows high dispersion in range of 16 to
20ps/nm/km in C-band and L-band. So SSMFs are used in O-band.

15. Fiber mostly suited in single-wavelength transmission in O-band is

a) Low-water-peak non dispersion-shifted fibers
b) Standard single mode fibers
c) Low minimized fibers
d) Non-zero-dispersion-shifted fibers
Answer: b
Explanation: Standard single mode fibers with a step index profile is called non dispersion shifted fiber and
it is particularly used for single wavelength transmission in O-band and as if has a zero-dispersion
wavelength at 1.31μm.

16. Each stage of information transfer is required to follow the fundamentals of _______
a) Optical interconnection
b) Optical hibernation
c) Optical networking
d) Optical regeneration

Answer: c
Explanation: Optical networking uses optical fiber as a transmission medium. It provides a connection
between users to enable them to communicate with each other by transporting information from a source to a
destination.

17. ______ _ is a multi-functional element of optical network.

a) Hop
b) Optical node
c) Wavelength
d) Optical attenuation

Answer: b
Explanation: An optical node is a multi-functional element which acts as a transceiver unit capable of
receiving, transmitting and processing the optical signal. The optical nodes are interconnected with optical
fiber links.

18. The system designer finds greatest interest in the _______ _

a) Overall fiber attenuation
b) Fiber dispersion
c) Latitude of the fiber
d) Durability

Answer: a
Explanation: Fiber attenuation results from various aspects such as signal degradation and physical factors
such as the environment. The system designer has to look upon the overall fiber attenuation while the
relative magnitude is important for the development team.

19. How many parameters are usually worked upon by the measurement techniques in attenuation?
a) Three
b) Two
c) One
d) Five

Answer: b
Explanation: The measurement techniques used to obtain fiber attenuation usually gives two parameters.
One is spectral loss characteristic and the other is the spot measurement. The spot measurement is usually
referred to as the loss at a single wavelength.

20. Multimode step index fibers have a bandwidth of ______ _

a) 2 to 30 MHz km
b) 6 to 50 MHz km
c) 10 to 40 MHz km
d) 8 to 40 MHz km

Answer: b
Explanation: Multimode step index fibers have a bandwidth of 6 to 50 MHz km. These fibers with this
bandwidth are best suited for short -haul, limited bandwidth and relatively low-cost application.
TWO MARK MCQ

21. Which law gives the relationship between refractive index of the dielectric?
a) Law of reflection
b) Law of refraction (Snell’s Law).
c) Millman’s Law
d) Huygen’s Law
Answer: b
Explanation: Snell’s Law of refraction states that the angle of incidence Ø1 and refraction Ø2 are related to
each other and to refractive index of the dielectrics.
It is given by- n1sinØ1 = n2sinØ2
where n1 and n2 are the refractive indices of two mediums. Ø1 and Ø2 are angles of incidence and
refraction.

22.The light sources used in fibre optics communication are :

a) LED’s and Lasers
b) Phototransistors
c) Xenon lights
d) Incandescent
Answer: a
Explanation: LED’s and Lasers are the light sources used in optical communication. During the working
process of optical signals they are both supposed to be switched on and of rapidly and accurately enough to
transmit the signal. Also they transmit light further with fewer errors.

23. The ______ ray passes through the axis of the fiber core.
a) Reflected
b) Refracted
c) Meridional
d) Shew
Answer: c
Explanation: When a light ray is passed through a perfect optical fiber, any discontinuities at the core
cladding interface would result in refraction rather than total internal reflection. Such light ray passes
through the axis of fiber core and is called as meridional ray. This principle is used while stating the
fundamental transmission properties of optical fiber.

24. Light incident on fibers of angles________the acceptance angle do not propagate into the fiber
a) Less than
b) Greater than
c) Equal to
d) Less than and equal to
Answer: b
Explanation: Acceptance angle is the maximum angle at which light may enter into the fiber in order to be
propagated. Hence the light incident on the fiber is less than the acceptance angle, the light will propagate in
the fiber and will be lost by radiation.

25. What is the numerical aperture of the fiber if the angle of acceptance is 16 degree
a) 0.50
b) 0.36
c) 0.20
d) 0.27
Answer: d
Explanation: The numerical aperture of a fiber is related to the angle of acceptance as follows:
NA = sin Ѳa
Where NA = numerical aperture
Ѳ= acceptance angle.

26. The ratio of speed of light in air to the speed of light in another medium is called as _____
a) Speed factor
b) Dielectric constant
c) Reflection index
d) Refraction index
Answer: d
Explanation: When a ray travels from one medium to another, the ray incident from a light source is called
as incident ray. In passing through, the speed varies. The ratio of the speed of incident and the refracted ray
in different medium is called refractive index.

27. When a ray of light enters one medium from another medium, which quality will not change
a) Direction
b) Frequency
c) Speed
d) Wavelength
Answer: b
Explanation: The electric and the magnetic field have to remain continuous at the refractive index boundary.
If the frequency is changed, the light at the boundary would change its phase and the fields won’t match. In
order to match the field, frequency won’t change.

28. ______ _ in the laser occurs when photon colliding with an excited atom causes the
stimulated emission of a second photon.
a) Light amplification
b) Attenuation
c) Dispersion
d) Population inversion
Answer: a
Explanation: Laser emits coherent radiation of one or more discrete wavelength. Lasers produce coherent
light through a process called stimulated emission. Light amplification is obtained through stimulated
emission. Continuation of this process creates avalanche multiplication.

29. A device which converts electrical energy in the form of a current into optical energy is called as
a) Optical source
b) Optical coupler
c) Optical isolator
d) Circulator

Answer: a
Explanation: An Optical source is an active component in an optical fiber communication system. It converts
electrical energy into optical energy and allows the light output to be efficiently coupled into the Optical
fiber.

30. Which process gives the laser its special properties as an optical source?
a) Dispersion
b) Stimulated absorption
c) Spontaneous emission
d) Stimulated emission

Answer: d
Explanation: In Stimulated emission, the photon produced is of the same energy to the one which cause it.
Hence, the light associated with stimulated photon is in phase and has same polarization. Therefore, in
contrast to spontaneous emission, coherent radiation is obtained. The coherent radiation phenomenon in
laser provides amplification thereby making laser a better optical source than LED.

31. The lower energy level contains more atoms than upper level under the conditions of
________________
a) Isothermal packaging
b) Population inversion
c) Thermal equilibrium
d) Pumping
Answer: c
Explanation: Under the conditions of thermal equilibrium, the lower energy level contains more atoms than
the upper level. To achieve optical amplification, it is required to create a non-equilibrium distribution such
that the population of upper energy level is more than the lower energy level. This process of excitation of
atoms into the upper level is achieved by using an external energy source and is called as pumping.

32. The spectral width of emission from the single mode device is
a) Smaller than broadened transition line-width
b) Larger than broadened transition line-width
c) Equal the broadened transition line-width
d) Cannot be determined
Answer: a
Explanation: Single mode device has a smaller spectral width as compared to that of broadening transition
line-width. This is because for a single-mode operation, the laser optical output must have only a single
longitudinal and single transverse mode.

33. The width of depletion region is dependent on________ of semiconductor.

a) Doping concentrations for applied reverse bias
b) Doping concentrations for applied forward bias
c) Properties of material
d) Amount of current provided

Answer: a
Explanation: The depletion region is formed by immobile positively and immobile negatively charged donor
and acceptor atoms in n- and p-type respectively. When carriers are swept towards majority side under
electric field, lower the doping, wider the depletion region.

34. Electron-hole pairs are generated in

a) Depletion region
b) Diffusion region
c) Depletion region
d) P-type region
Answer: c
Explanation: Photons are absorbed in both depletion and diffusion regions. The position and width of
absorption region depends on incident photons energy. The absorption region may extend throughout device
in weakly absorption of photons. Thus carriers are generated in both regions.

35. The process of excitation of an electron from valence band to conduction band leaves an empty hole in
the valence band and is called as
a) Detection
b) Absorption
c) Degeneration of an electron-hole pair
d) Regeneration of an electron-hole pair
Answer: d
Explanation: A photon is incident in the depletion region of a device has an energy greater than or equal to
the band gap energy of the fabricating material. This will cause excitation of an electron from valence to the
conduction band. This creates an empty hole in valence band which is referred to as photo-generation of an
electron-hole pair.

36. The ______ _ process takes place in both extrinsic and intrinsic semiconductors.
a) Avalanche multiplication
b) External photoemission
c) Internal photoemission
d) Dispersion
Answer: c
Explanation: During intrinsic absorption, the received photons excite electrons from the valence band and
towards the conduction band in the semiconductor. Extrinsic absorption involves impurity centers created
with the material. Generally, intrinsic absorption is preferred for internal photoemission.

37. Which of the following detector is fabricated from semiconductor alloys?

a) Photoconductive detector
b) p-i-n detector
c) Photodiodes
d) Photoemission detectors

Answer: a
Explanation: The detectors fabricated from semiconductor alloys can be used for longer wavelengths.
Photoconductive detector and hetero-junction transistor have found favor as a potential detector over a
wavelength range of 1.1 to 1.6μm.

38. Coherent optical transmission is degraded by the ______ associated with the transmitter and local
oscillator lasers.
a) Phase noise
b) White noise
c) Dissipation
d) Power

Answer: a
Explanation: Phase noise is determined by the laser line width. The phase noise associated with both the
transmitter and the mid-tier section severely degrades the coherent optical transmission as well as reception.

39. ______ is the principal cause of line width broadening in the coherent devices.
a) Electromagnetic field
b) Power dissipation
c) Injection laser phase noise
d) Gaussian noise

Answer: c
Explanation: Injection laser phase noise affects the system performance. The system performance
considerations include receiver noise, power loss and line width broadening.

40. Which technique was started for narrowing of injection laser line widths?
a) External resonator cavity
b) Long-hauled oscillator
c) Circulator
d) Gyrator Answer: a
Explanation: Many approaches evolved in time for laser line width problem. The one which sustained and
showed effects was the use of external resonator cavity in the lasers
THREE MARK MCQ

41. The electron hole pairs generated in a photodiode are separated by the _______ _
a) Magnetic field
b) Electric field
c) Static field
d) Depletion region
Answer: b
Explanation: Electric field separates the electron-hole pairs in a photodiode. The electric field distribution is
determined by an internal and an external field component. A reverse bias voltage is usually applied to the p-
n photodiode.

42. The fraction of incident photons generated by photodiode of electrons generated collected at detector is
known as
a) Quantum efficiency
b) Absorption coefficient
c) Responsively
d) Anger recombination
Answer: a
Explanation: Efficiency of a particular device is obtained by ratio of input given to that of output obtained.
Thus, similarly, in photodiode, input i.e. incident photon and output generated electrons and their ratio is
quantum efficiency.

43. What is the unit of measurement of the optical attenuation per unit length?
a) dB-km
b) dB/km
c) km/dB
d) V
Answer: b
Explanation: The optical fiber attenuation per unit length is measured by unit dB/km. dB refers to the
electrical parameter used to calculate the attenuation in the form of losses and spot measurements.

44. ______ _ measurements checks the impurity level in the manufacturing process.
a) Material reflectometry
b) Material absorption loss
c) Material attenuation loss
d) Calorimetric loss
Answer: b
Explanation: The material absorption loss measurements check the absorption losses. It checks the impurity
level in the fiber at the manufacturing stage. Thus, it is efficient than the attenuation measurement methods.

45. Intermodal dispersion is nonexistent in_______ fibers.

a) Multimode
b) Single mode
c) Step index- multimode
d) Al-GU
Answer: b
Explanation: Intra-modal as the name suggests need multimode fibers to propagate. In single mode fibers,
only one mode is there to propagate. Hence, Intermodal dispersion is nonexistent in single mode fibers.

46. In the single mode fibers, the dominant dispersion mechanism is _______
a) Intermodal dispersion
b) Frequency distribution
c) Material dispersion
d) Intra-modal dispersion
Answer: d
Explanation: In single mode case, the dominant dispersion mechanism is chromatic. Chromatic dispersion is
called as intra-modal dispersion.

47. An optical fiber has core-index of 1.480 and a cladding index of 1.478. What should be the core size for
single mode operation at 1310nm?
a) 7.31μm
b) 8.71μm
c) 5.26μm
d) 6.50μm

Answer: d
Explanation: Normalized frequency V<=2.405 is the value at which the lowest order Bessel function J=0.

Core size(radius)

48. A monochromatic wave propagates along a waveguide in z direction. These points of constant phase
travel in constant phase travel at a phase velocity Vp is given by
a) Vp=ω/β
b) Vp=ω/c
c) Vp=C/N
d) Vp=mass/acceleration

Answer: a
Explanation: Velocity is a function of displacement. Phase velocity Vp is a measure of angular velocity.

49. Refraction is the

a) Bending of light waves
b) Reflection of light waves
c) Diffusion of light waves
d) Refraction of light waves
Answer: a
Explanation: Unlike reflection, refraction involves penetration of a light wave from one medium to another.
While penetrating, as it passes through another medium it gets deviated at some angle.

50. Rayleigh scattering and Mie scattering are the types of

a) Linear scattering losses
b) Non-linear scattering losses
c) Fiber bends losses
d) Splicing losses
Answer: a
Explanation: Rayleigh scattering and Mie scattering both result from non-ideal physical properties of the
fiber. These losses may be impossible to eradicate. Linear scattering mechanisms cause the transfer of
optical power contained within one propagating mode to be transferred linearly into a different mode.