Scribd
Upload
10 views3 pages

Experiment 1 Aim - : Propagation Loss

Uploaded by

chaudharyashish859
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
10 views3 pages

Experiment 1 Aim - : Propagation Loss

Uploaded by

chaudharyashish859
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Experiment 1

Aim -
To establish and study the point-to-point optical fiber communication link and calculate
propagation loss, attenuation in optical fibers.

Software Required -
OptiSystem 21

Theory –
Propagation loss and attenuation are critical factors in optical fiber communication
systems. They describe the reduction in signal power as it travels through an optical
fiber. Understanding these phenomena is essential for designing and maintaining reliable
optical communication networks.

Propagation Loss:
Propagation loss is the reduction in the power of an optical signal as it travels through
an optical fiber. This loss can occur due to several mechanisms:

1. Absorption:
- Absorption refers to the process where some materials within the optical fiber absorb
light at specific wavelengths.
- Impurities and dopants within the fiber can lead to absorption losses.
- Different materials absorb light differently, so the choice of fiber material is critical to
minimizing absorption losses.

2. Scattering:
- Scattering occurs when light encounters imperfections or irregularities within the fiber.
- Scattering can be categorized into Rayleigh scattering (caused by small, randomly
distributed imperfections) and Mie scattering (caused by larger imperfections or
irregularities).
- Scattering causes light to deviate from its original path, leading to power loss.

3. Bending Loss:
- Bending loss, also known as macrobend or microbend loss, occurs when the optical
fiber is bent or curved excessively.
- The bending of the fiber can cause light leakage from the core into the cladding or
even into the surrounding medium, resulting in significant signal attenuation.
4. Modal Dispersion:
- In multi-mode optical fibers, modal dispersion can lead to propagation loss. Modal
dispersion occurs because different modes of light travel at different speeds, causing
temporal spreading of the optical signal.

Attenuation:
Attenuation is a measure of the reduction in signal power per unit length of the optical
fiber. It is typically expressed in decibels per kilometer (dB/km). Attenuation is primarily
caused by absorption and scattering losses.
Key Factors Affecting Attenuation:

1. Wavelength Dependency:
- Attenuation varies with the wavelength of the light signal. Different materials have
varying absorption characteristics at different wavelengths.
- Fiber designers aim to minimize attenuation in the spectral range of interest.

2. Material Properties:
- The choice of fiber material influences attenuation. Silica-based optical fibers are
commonly used due to their low intrinsic attenuation.
- Doping the fiber with specific materials can modify its optical properties to optimize
performance.

3. Manufacturing Quality:
- The manufacturing process of optical fibers must minimize impurities, imperfections,
and defects to reduce attenuation.
- High-quality optical fibers are crucial for minimizing signal loss.

Attenuation (α) can be calculated using the formula:


α (dB/km) = 10 * log10(Pin / Pout) / L

Where:
- α is the attenuation in dB/km.
- Pout is the output power (power at the end of the fiber).
- Pin is the input power (power at the beginning of the fiber).
- L is the length of the fiber in kilometers.
Circuit –

Input Power – Output Power –

Calculations –
Attenuation –
α (dB/km) = 10 * log10(468.812/ 46.88) / 50 = 0.2 dB/km
Propagation loss –
P (dB) = α * L = 0.2 * 50 = 10 dB

Result –
Propagation loss and Attenuation for point-to-point optical fiber communication link was
calculated using Optisystem 21.

You might also like