Rohini 97661964437

ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
Electromagnetic Mode Theory for Optical Propagation
1. Electromagnetic Waves
In order to obtain an improved model for the propagation of light in an optical
fiber, electromagnetic wave theory must be considered. The basis for the study
of electromagnetic wave propagation is provided by Maxwell’s equations. For a
medium with zero conductivity these vector relationships may be written in
terms of the electric field E, magnetic field H, electric flux density D and
magnetic flux density B as the curl equations:
where ε is the dielectric permittivity and μ is the magnetic permeability of the

medium. Substituting for D and B and taking the curl of Eqs (1.18) and 1.19)
gives:
EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

Then using the divergence conditions of Eqs (1.20) and (1.21) with the vector
identity:
where∇2 is the Laplacian operator. For rectangular Cartesian and cylindrical

polar coordinates the above wave equations hold for each component of the
field vector, every component satisfying the scalar wave equation
Where ψ may represent a component of the E or H field and up is the phase

velocity (velocity of propagation of a point of constant phase in the wave) in the
dielectric medium. It follows that:
Where μr and εr are the relative permeability and permittivity for the dielectric
medium and μ0 and ε0 are the permeability and permittivity of free space. The
velocity of light in free space c is therefore:

If planar waveguides, described by rectangular Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z), or

circular fibers, described by cylindrical polar coordinates (r, φ, z), are
considered, then the Laplacian operator takes the form:
respectively. It is necessary to consider both these forms for a complete

treatment of optical propagation in the fiber, although many of the properties of
interest may be dealt with using Cartesian coordinates.The basic solution of the
wave equation is a sinusoidal wave, the most important form of which is a
uniform plane wave given by
where ω is the angular frequency of the field, t is the time, k is the propagation
vector which gives the direction of propagation and the rate of change of phase
with distance, while the components of r specify the coordinate point at which
the field is observed. When λ is the optical wavelength in a vacuum, the
magnitude of the propagation vector or the vacuum phase propagation
constant k (where k = |k|) is given by:
It should be noted that in this case k is also referred to as the free space wave
number.
2. Modes in a Planar Guide
The planar guide is the simplest form of optical waveguide. We may assume it
consists of a slab of dielectric with refractive index n1 sandwiched between two
regions of lower refractive index n2. In order to obtain an improved model for
optical propagation it is useful to consider the interference of plane wave
components within this dielectric waveguide.
The conceptual transition from ray to wave theory may be aided by

consideration of a plane monochromatic wave propagating in the direction of
the ray path within the guide (see Figure 1.8(a)). As the refractive index within
the guide is n1, the optical wavelength in this region is reduced to λ/n1, while
the vacuum propagation constant is increased to n1k. When θ is the angle
between the wave propagation vector or the equivalent ray and the guide axis,
the plane wave can be resolved into two component plane waves propagating in
the z and x directions, as shown in Figure 1.8(a).

Figure 1.8 The formation of a mode in a planar dielectric guide: (a) a plane
wave propagating in the guide shown by its wave vector or equivalent ray – the
wave vector is resolved into components in the z and x directions; (b) the
interference of plane waves in the guide forming the lowest order mode (m = 0)
[Source: htpp://img.brainkart.com]
The component of the phase propagation in the Z direction is given by:
The component of the phase propagation constant in the x direction βx is:
The component of the plane wave in the x direction is reflected at the interface
between the higher and lower refractive index media. When the total phase
change* after two successive reflections at the upper and lower interfaces
(between the points P and Q) is equal to 2mπ radians, where m is an integer,
then constructive interference occurs and a standing wave is obtained in
the x direction. This situation is illustrated in Figure 1.8(b), where the
interference of two plane waves is shown. In this illustration it is assumed that
the interference forms the lowest order (where m = 0) standing wave, where the
electric field is a maximum at the center of the guide decaying towards zero at
the boundary between the guide and cladding. However, it may be observed
from Figure 1.8(b) that the electric field penetrates some distance into the
cladding, a phenomenon which is discussed.

Figure 1.9 Physical model showing the ray propagation and the corresponding
transverse electric (TE) field patterns of three lower order models (m =1, 2, 3)
in the planar dielectric guide
Nevertheless, the optical wave is effectively confined within the guide and the
electric field distribution in the x direction does not change as the wave
propagates in the z direction. The sinusoidally varying electric field in
the z direction is also shown in Figure 1.8(b). The stable field distribution in the
x direction with only a periodic z dependence is known as a mode. A specific
mode is obtained only when the angle between the propagation vectors or the
rays and the interface have a particular value, as indicated in Figure 1.8(b). In
effect, Eqs (1.34) and (1.35) define a group or congruence of rays which in the
case described represents the lowest order mode. Hence the light propagating

within the guide is formed into discrete modes, each typified by a distinct value
of θ.
To visualize the dominant modes propagating in the z direction we may

consider plane waves corresponding to rays at different specific angles in the
planar guide. These plane waves give constructive interference to form standing
wave patterns across the guide following a sine or cosine formula. Figure 2.9
shows examples of such rays for m = 1, 2, 3, together with the electric field
distributions in the x direction. It may be observed that m denotes the number of
zeros in this transverse field pattern. In this way m signifies the order of the
mode and is known as the mode number.
When light is described as an electromagnetic wave it consists of a periodically

varying electric field E and magnetic field H which are orientated at right
angles to each other. The transverse modes shown in Figure 1.9 illustrate the
case when the electric field is perpendicular to the direction of propagation and
hence Ez = 0, but a corresponding component of the magnetic field H is in the
direction of propagation. In this instance the modes are said to be transverse
electric (TE). Alternatively, when a component of the E field is in the direction
of propagation, but Hz =0, the modes formed are called transverse magnetic
(TM). The mode numbers are incorporated into this nomenclature by referring
to the Tem and TMm modes, as illustrated for the transverse electric modes
shown in Figure 1.9. When the total field lies in the transverse plane, transverse
electromagnetic (TEM) waves exist where both Ez and Hz are zero. However,
although TEM waves occur in metallic conductors (e.g. coaxial cables) they are
seldom found in optical waveguides.

3. Phase and Group Velocity
The envelope of the wave package or group of waves travels at a group velocity
υg With in all electromagnetic waves, whether plane or otherwise, there are
points of constant phase. For plane waves these constant phase points form a
surface which is referred to as a wave front. As a monochromatic light wave
propagates along a waveguide in the z direction these points of constant phase
travel at a phase velocity υp given by
where ω is the angular frequency of the wave. However, it is impossible in

practice to produce perfectly monochromatic light waves, and light energy is
generally composed of a sum of plane wave components of different
frequencies. Often the situation exists where a group of waves with closely
similar frequencies propagate so that their resultant forms a packet of waves.
The formation of such a wave packet resulting from the combination of two
waves of slightly different frequency propagating together is illustrated in

Figure 1.10. This wave packet does not travel at the phase velocity of the
individual waves but is observed to move at a group velocity υg given by
The group velocity is of greatest importance in the study of the transmission

characteristics of optical fibers as it relates to the propagation characteristics of
observable wave groups or packets of light. If propagation in an infinite
medium of refractive index n1 is considered, then the propagation constant may
be written as:
Where c is the velocity of light in free space. Equation (1.38) follows from Eqs
(1.33) and (1.34) where we assume propagation in the z direction only and
hence cos θ is equal to unity. Using Eq. (1.36) we obtain the following
relationship for the phase velocity:
Similarly, employing Eq. (1.37), where in the limit δω/δβ becomes dω/dβ, the
group velocity:
The parameter Ng is known as the group index of the guide.

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ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Electromagnetic Mode Theory for Optical Propagation

where ε is the dielectric permittivity and μ is the magnetic permeability of the

EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

where∇2 is the Laplacian operator. For rectangular Cartesian and cylindrical

Where ψ may represent a component of the E or H field and up is the phase

EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

If planar waveguides, described by rectangular Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z), or

respectively. It is necessary to consider both these forms for a complete

2. Modes in a Planar Guide

The conceptual transition from ray to wave theory may be aided by

EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

The component of the phase propagation constant in the x direction βx is:

EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

To visualize the dominant modes propagating in the z direction we may

When light is described as an electromagnetic wave it consists of a periodically

EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

3. Phase and Group Velocity

where ω is the angular frequency of the wave. However, it is impossible in

EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

The group velocity is of greatest importance in the study of the transmission

The parameter Ng is known as the group index of the guide.

EC8751 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

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