SREENIVASA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES

(Autonomous)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
QUESTION BANK
16ECE 411 – OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATIONS
Questio
PO
n Questions
Attainment
No.
UNIT – 1: INTRODUCTION TO OPTICAL FIBERS
PART A ( 2 Marks)
1 What is the principle of total internal reflection? PO1
2 Discuss about the uses of optical fibers? PO1
3 Write short notes on ray optics theory. PO1
4 State Snell’s Law. PO1
5 Define – Numerical Aperture PO1
6 A step index fiber has the normalized frequency of 26.6 at 1300 nm. If the core radius is 25 m, PO2
find the numerical aperture.
7 Define – Acceptance Angle & Critical Angle PO1
8 A silica optical fiber with a large core diameter has a core refractive index of 1.5 and a PO2
Cladding refractive index of 1.47. Determine the acceptance angle in air for the fiber.
9 Describe meridonal rays and skew rays? PO1
10 Assume that there is a glass rod of refractive index 1.5 surrounded by air. Find the critical PO2
incidence angle
11 Demonstrate Phase Velocity & group velocity PO1
12 The relative refractive index difference for an optical fiber is 1%. Determine the critical angle PO2
at the core cladding interface if the core refractive index is 1.46.
13 For n1 = 1.55 and n2 = 1.52. calculate the critical angle and numerical aperture PO2
14 What are the advantages of graded index fiber? PO1
15 List the advantages of multimode fiber over single mode fiber PO1
16 What are the advantages of optical communications? PO1
17 Write a short notes on Birefringence and normalized frequency PO1
18 Derive Mode field Diameter PO1
19 List the advantages and disadvantages of monomode fiber PO1
20 For a fiber with core refractive index of 1.54 and fractional refractive index difference of 0.01. PO2
Calculate its numerical aperture
PART-B (10 Marks)
1. Describe about the following: (i) Refractive index. (ii) Snell’s law. (iii) Critical angle. PO1, PO2
2. Derive an expression for number of modes exists in step indexed fiber. Also explain about
PO1, PO2
mode field diameter.
3. Draw the optical fiber communication block diagram and explain each in detail PO1
4. Discuss in detail about single mode and graded index fibers with diagrams. PO1
5. With the help of electromagnetic spectrum, explain about the historical development of optical
PO1
fiber communications.
A graded index fiber has a core with a parabolic refractive index profile which has a diameter
6. of 50. The fiber has a NA of 0.2. Estimate the total number of guided modes propagating in PO1, PO2
the fiber when it is operating at a wavelength of 1µm.
7. Derive MFD of single mode fiber? Explain with suitable structure. PO1, PO2
8. Illustrate active glass fibers? Explain in detail. PO1
9. Describe the following terms
PO1, PO2
(i)Quantum efficiency (iii) Responsivity (iii) phase and group velocity.
10. Explain with the neat diagram the digital signal transmission through on optical data line. PO1
11. Calculate the numerical aperture of step index fiber having and . What is the maximum
PO1, PO2
entrance angle for this fiber, if the outer medium is air with n=1.0
12. Two step index fibers one of which is of mono mode type and the other one in the multimode PO1, PO2
type have the following parameters. The mono mode fiber has a core diameter of 8 μm and

Prepared by: K YOGAPRASAD and N KEERTHI 1

 SREENIVASA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
(Autonomous)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
QUESTION BANK
16ECE 411 – OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATIONS
core refractive index of 1.5. The relative refractive index difference between operating wave
lengths is 1.55 μm. Calculate the critical radius of curvature at which bending loss occur in the
fiber.
13. List the advantages of optical fibers over conventional coaxial cables. PO1
14. Demonstrate the mode theory of circular waveguide.
List out the requirements for selecting materials in optical fibers and also explain about the
15. following :(a)Halid glass fibers.(b)Active glass fibers.(c)Plastic glass fibers PO1

Explain the following:

16. (i)Total internal reflection.(ii)Acceptance angle.(iii)Critical angle. PO1, PO2
(iv)Numerical aperture
17. With neat diagrams, explain the light propagation conditions in single mode fibers. PO1, PO2
18. Explain the function of each block with a help of neat block diagram of a digital optical fiber
PO1
communication system.
19. Explain ray theory transmission with neat diagram. PO1, PO2
20. Distinguish between single mode and multimode step index fibers PO1, PO2
UNIT – 2: SIGNAL DEGRADATION OPTICAL FIBERS
PART A ( 2 Marks)
1. Describe dispersion in optical fiber PO1, PO2,
PO3, PO5
2. What are the types of linear scattering losses? PO1
3. What is meant by intrinsic absorption in optical fiber? PO1
4. Describe the losses (or) signal attenuation mechanism in a fiber? PO1
5. Name three different mechanism caused by absorption. PO1
6. What are the types of linear scattering losses? PO1
7. Explain extrinsic absorption in optical fiber? PO1
8. Mention the way to reduce macro bending losses PO1
9. What are the types of nonlinear scattering losses? PO1
10. What is meant by Fresnel reflection? PO1
11. Discuss Rayleigh scattering PO1
12. Write two reasons for chromatic dispersion PO1
13. Mention most important non- linear effects of optical fiber communication? PO1
14. Illustrate dispersion in optical fiber? PO1
15. Explain factors that cause Rayleigh scattering in optical fibers? PO1
16. Classify different types of dispersion? PO1, PO2
17. Describe intermodal dispersion? PO1, PO2
18. Derive Group Velocity Dispersion(GVD) PO1,PO2
19. Define the following (i) modal noise (ii) cross talk (iii) chromatic dispersion PO1,PO2
20. What are the techniques used in splicing? PO1
PART-B (10 Marks)
1. Describe bending losses in optical fibers. PO1
2. Derive expression for intermodal dispersion and chromatic dispersion PO1,PO2
Define the following:
3. a. Fiber connectors.
PO1
b. Fiber couplers.
c. Optical isolators and circulators
4. How do you find whether an optical fiber link is limited by attenuation or by dispersion?
PO1,PO2
Explain clearly.
5. Derive an expression for pulse spreading in a step index multi mode fiber due to intermodal
PO1,PO2
dispersion.
6. Illustrate various types of misalignments resulting in losses while splicing and joining optical PO1,PO2

Prepared by: K YOGAPRASAD and N KEERTHI 2

 SREENIVASA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
(Autonomous)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
QUESTION BANK
16ECE 411 – OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATIONS
fibers.
7. What is attenuation? Explain PO1,PO2
When the mean optical power launched into an 8 km length of fiber is 120 the mean optical
power at the fiber output is 3 . Determine.
(i) The overall signal attenuation or loss in decibels through the fiber assuming
8. there are no connectors or splices.
PO1,PO4
(ii) The signal attenuation per km for the fiber.
(iii) The overall signal attenuation for a 10 km optical link using the same fiber with
splices at 1 km intervals, each giving an attenuation of 1 dB.
The numerical “Input/output” power ratio in (iii).
9. Write short notes on fiber-to-fiber joints. PO1
10. Find the radius of curvature R at which the number of modes decreases by 50 percent in a
PO1,PO4
gladded index fiber take 𝛼=2, 𝜂2=1.5 , Δ = 0.01, a = 25 𝜇m, 𝜆 = 1.3 𝜇m.
11. Briefly explain about the overall dispersion in single mode fiber PO1,PO2
12. Explain about fiber of connects return losses PO1,PO2
Two step index fibers one of which is of mono mode type and the other one in the multimode
type have the following parameters. The mono mode fiber has a core diameter of 8 μm and
13. core refractive index of 1.5. The relative refractive index difference between operating wave PO1,PO2
lengths is 1.55 μm. Calculate the critical radius of curvature at which bending loss occur in the
fiber.
14. Write notes on broadening of the pulse in the fiber dispersion. PO1,PO4
15. Illustrate intrinsic and extrinsic absorption exists in optical fibers. PO1,PO4
16. Discuss in detail about (i)Material dispersion. (ii) Wave guide dispersion. PO1,PO4
17. Explain clearly about the mechanical misalignments and fiber splicing techniques. PO1,PO4
18. Demonstrate material and wave guide dispersions. PO1,PO4
19. Explain the losses in fiber optic communications. PO1
20. Estimate the losses encountered while coupling power from a source to a fiber due to
PO1,PO2
mismatch in their numerical apertures and surface areas.
21. Discuss briefly about the leaky modes and mode coupling losses in the fiber optic
PO1,PO2
communication.
UNIT – 3: FIBER OPTICAL SOURCES AND COUPLING
PART A ( 2 Marks)
1. Compare and contrast between surface and edge emitting LEDS PO1
2. Describe the significance of intrinsic layer in PIN diodes? PO1
3. Distinguish between direct and indirect band- gap materials PO1
4. Define the following (i)Detector Response Time(ii) Quantum Efficiency of a photo detector PO1,PO2
5. What do you mean by hetero junction? Mention its advantages? PO1
6. List the different types of mechanical misalignments that can occur between two joined fibers. PO1
7. Why is silicon not used to fabricate LED or Laser Diode? PO1
8. List the advantages of LED? PO1
9. Discuss benefits and drawbacks of avalanche photo diodes. PO1
10. An LED has radiative and non- radiative recombination times of 30 and 100 ns respectively.
PO2
Determine the internal quantum efficiency.
11. Illustrate the principle of operation of LASER? PO1
12. Define – the three modes of cavity of LASER PO1
13. Write a short notes on population inversion? PO1,PO2
14. Compare LED and ILD sources. PO1
15. Explain advantages of Quantum well LASERS? PO1
16. Derive Internal Quantum Efficiency & External Quantum Efficiency PO1,PO2
17. Define – Responsivity of a photo detector. PO1,PO2
18. Compare the performance of APD with PIN diode. PO1
Prepared by: K YOGAPRASAD and N KEERTHI 3
 SREENIVASA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
(Autonomous)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
QUESTION BANK
16ECE 411 – OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATIONS

PART-B (10 Marks)

Explain about the following:
(i)Fiber connectors.
1. (ii)Fiber couplers. PO1
(iii)Optical isolators and circulators.

2. Derive an expression for threshold conditions of laser diode. PO1 ,PO2

Demonstrate the following
3. (i)Laser diode rate equation
PO1 ,PO2
(ii)External quantum efficiency
(iii)Resonant frequencies
4. Establish the threshold gain condition for lasing to occur in a fabry-perot resonator based laser
PO1 ,PO2
diode.
5. What is a fiber coupler? Explain about three and four port couplers. PO1
A four port multimode fiber FBT coupler has 60 optical power launched into port 1. The
6. measured output power at ports 2, 3 and 4 are 0.004, 26.0 and 27.5 respectively. Determine
PO2
the excess loss, the insertion losses between the input and output ports, the crosstalk and the
split ratio for the device.
7. Define quantum efficiency and LED power. Explain. PO2
8. A planar LED is fabricated from gallium arsenide which has a refractive index of 3.6. PO2
Calculate the optical power emitted into air as a percentage of the internal optical power for
9. PO2
the device when the transmission factor at the crystal-air interface is 0.68.
10. List the factors involved in launching optical power from a light source to a fiber. PO3
11. Discuss in detail about Quantum efficiency and Responsivity PO2

12. Draw the schematic of fabry perot resonator cavity for a layer diode and explain how the
PO1 ,PO3
optical relations are generated.
13. Draw the laser diode characteristics. Explain it. PO1
14. Explain different structure of lasers with neat sketches. PO1
15. Classify surface emitters and edge emitter LEDS. PO1
16. Explain the modulation capability of the laser diode, its temperature affects and how to
PO1 ,PO2
compensate for variations in temperature.
17. Estimate the losses encountered while coupling power from a source to a fiber due to
PO1
mismatch in their numerical apertures and surface areas.
18. Explain in detail LED with neat diagram. PO1
19. Reason out if the two parameters ‘quantum efficiency and responsivity signify the same
PO2
properties of a LED.
Determine the rise times for various components of intensity modulated fiber optic link listed
below, these specifications support a 5 km repeater less fiber optic link with optical band
width 6 MHz.
20. Rise time of LED transmitter electronics=10ns PO2
Inter modal dispersion induced=8ns/Km
Intra modal dispersion induced=2ns/Km
Rise time of detector and receiver electronic=3ns
21. Explain the modulation capability of the laser diode, its temperature affects and how to
PO1
compensate for variations in temperature.
22. What is fiber splice? Explain various splicing techniques with neat diagrams. PO1
23. With the help of neat schematic, explain light emission from an edge emitting LED. PO1
UNIT – 4: FIBER OPTICAL RECEIVERS
PART A ( 2 Marks)
1. What is inter symbol interference? PO1
2. Classify the methods used to measure fiber refractive index profile PO1

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 SREENIVASA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
(Autonomous)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
QUESTION BANK
16ECE 411 – OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATIONS
3. Why silicon is preferred to make fiber optical receivers? PO1
4. Define – Responsivity of a photo detector PO1
5. Define – Quantum Limit PO1
6. What is meant by noise corner frequency? PO1
7. What are the desired features of a photo detector? PO1
8. Explain receiver error sources? PO1
9. Define – Modal noise and mode partition noise. PO1
10. Mention the benefits and drawbacks of APD. PO1
11. Why semiconductors based photo detectors preferred to other types of photo detectors. PO1
12. Mention the error sources in fiber optical receiver. PO1
13. Define – Bit Error Rate & Extinction ratio PO1
14. List the advantages of preamplifiers. PO1
15. Classify types of preamplifiers? PO1
16. What is dark current? How does dark current arise? PO1
17. List the benefits and drawbacks of avalanche photodiodes. PO1
18. List out the various error sources. PO2
19. What are the error sources of receiver? PO1
20. A given APD has a quantum efficiency of 65% at a wavelength of 900 nm. If 0.5 W of optical
PO2
power produces a multiplied photo current of 10 A, find the multiplication M
21. What are the desired features of a photo detector? PO1
22. Describe the term Quantum Limit. PO2
PART-B (10 Marks)
1. Explain the different noises present in photodiodes. PO1, PO2
An InGaAs PIN photodiode has the following parameters at a wavelength of 1300 nm, ID = 4
2. nA, η = 0.90, RL = 1000 Ω and the surface leakage current is negligible. The incident optical
PO4
power is 300 nW and the receiver bandwidth is 20 MHz. Find: (i) Quantum noise current. (ii)
Dark current noise. (iii) Thermal noise current.
3. Compare different photo detectors. PO1
4. Derive the expressions for photo detector noise and detector response time. PO1,PO4
5. Discuss the function of photo detector? Compare various photo detectors. PO1, PO2
6. What is the significance of system consideration in point-to-point fiber links? Explain. PO1
7. Explain about detector response time. PO1, PO2
8. Draw the following characteristics of the photodiode device(i) Current VS reverse voltage.(ii)
PO1,PO2
Optical power VS photo current.
9. Illustrate avalanche photo diode. PO1
A photo diode has quantum efficiency of 65 %. When photons of energy 1.5 x 10-19 J are
10. incident on it? (i) What is the wave length of the photo diode? (ii) Calculate the incident
PO1,PO4
optical power required to obtain a photo current of 2.5, when the photo diode is operating as
described above.
11. Explain the fundamental principle of PIN diode detector with neat diagrams. PO1
12. Derive an expression for total mean square noise signal in a photo detector and hence the S/N
PO1,PO2
ratio at the output of a receiver.
13. Derive the system rise time calculations with an example. PO1,PO4
14. Explain fundamental principle of APD detector with neat diagrams. PO1
15. What are the different system considerations in the design of a fiber optic link? PO1
16. Determine the rise times for various components of intensity modulated fiber optic link listed PO1,PO4
below, these specifications support a 5 km repeater less fiber optic link with optical band
width 6 MHz.
Rise time of LED transmitter electronics=10ns
Inter modal dispersion induced=8ns/Km

Prepared by: K YOGAPRASAD and N KEERTHI 5

 SREENIVASA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
(Autonomous)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
QUESTION BANK
16ECE 411 – OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATIONS
Intra modal dispersion induced=2ns/Km
Rise time of detector and receiver electronic=3ns
17. Explain the construction and operation of APD. PO1
18. What are the noise sources involved in detection of optical signals? PO2
UNIT – 5: SYSTEM DESIGN AND APPLICATIONS
PART A ( 2 Marks)
1. What is a broadcast and select network? PO1, PO4,
PO5
2. Classify types of optical amplifiers PO1
3. Discuss , topologies used for fiber optical network? PO1
4. Enumerate the various SONET / SDH layers? PO1
5. Describe the WDM PO1
6. What are the drawbacks of broadcast and select networks for wide area network applications? PO1
7. What is the purpose of rise-time budget analysis? PO1
8. What is EDFA ? PO1
9. What are the advantages of WDM? PO1
10. Explain the applications of WDM PO1
11. What are the standard fiber measurement techniques? PO1
12. Write the concept of link power budget. PO1
13. Draw the frame format of SONET. PO1
14. What is chirping? PO1
15. What is meant by modal noise? PO1
16. Name any two splicing techniques. PO1
17. What are the basic performance criteria of WDM technique? PO1
18. What are the main parameters used for characterizing the performance of optical amplifiers in PO1
a communication system?
19. List out the benefits of SONET over SDH networks. PO1
PART B ( 10 Marks)
1. Explain about the following (i)Dielectric thin film filters.(ii) Phased array based devices. PO1
2. Discuss in detail diffraction gratings. PO1
3. What are tunable light sources? Explain them. PO1
A four port multimode fiber FBT coupler has 60 optical power launched into port 1. The
4. measured output power at ports 2, 3 and 4 are 0.004, 26.0 and 27.5 respectively. Determine
PO4
the excess loss, the insertion losses between the input and output ports, the crosstalk and the
split ratio for the device.
Discuss the following optical coupler parameters:
5. Splitting ratio. (ii) Excess loss. (iii) Insertion loss. (iv) Cross talk. PO1

For a 2 x 2 fiber coupler, input power is 200 , throughput power is 90 , coupled power is 85
6. and cross talk power is 6.3 . Compute the performance parameters of the fiber coupler. PO1,PO4

7. Explain about(i)Tunable light sources.(ii)Active optical components. PO1

8. Classify multi channel transmission techniques. PO1
9. Express broad cast and select WDM networks in detail. PO1
10. Demonstrate the following : i)Passive optical couplers. (ii) Active optical components PO1
11. Explain operational principle and keep features of WDM. PO1
12. With a neat sketch ,discuss in detail about WDM PO1
13. Write short notes on fiber grating filters. PO1
14. Explain the following in respect of digital link: (i)Point to point links. (ii) Power penalties PO1,PO4

Prepared by: K YOGAPRASAD and N KEERTHI 6

 SREENIVASA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
(Autonomous)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
QUESTION BANK
16ECE 411 – OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATIONS
15. Explain about analog links in optical communication. PO1
16. Summarize the concept line coding in optical links. PO1
17. Write notes on radio over fiber links. PO1
18. Demonstrate link power budget and rise time budget in digital links. PO1,PO4
19. Derive an expression for carrier to noise ratio of analog link. PO1,PO4
20. Describe a method to carry out rise time budget analysis for a fiber optic link. PO1,PO4
21. Discuss briefly various sources of errors in digital fiber optic link. PO1

Prepared by: K YOGAPRASAD and N KEERTHI 7