Fiber Optics
Principle of Fiber Optics
➢ Construction & Working
➢ Total Internal Reflection (TIR) & Critical Angle
➢ Acceptance Angle & Acceptance Cone
➢ Numerical Aperture
➢ V-Number
Attenuation
➢ Pulse Dispersion Absorption Losses
➢ Scattering Losses Bending Losses
Classification of Fiber Optics
➢ On the basis of Reflective Index
1. Step Index (SI) Fiber 2. Graded Index (GRIN) Fiber
➢ On the basis of Number of Modes
1. Single Mode Fiber 2. Multi Mode Fibre
➢ On the basis of Material
1. Glass Fiber 2. Plastic Fiber
Fiber Optics
Core : This is the light transmission
area of fiber, either plastic or glass. (9
to 50μm)
Cladding : The function of cladding
is to provide a lower refractive index
at the core interface and helps in
reflection of light with in the core.
(125 to 150μm)
Coating: This is the multi layer of
plastic applied to preserve strength,
absorption and provide protection.
(150 to 250μm)
1μm (micron) is the one millionth part of meter
1μm = 0.0001 cm
Diameter of human hair = 17 to 181μm
Core: Highest density
Cladding : minimum thickness.
Total Internal Reflection
n1 is the refractive index of core and n2 is the
refractive index of cladding.
Outside medium from which the light is
launched into fiber have refractive index n0.
Necessary condition for TIR : n1 > n2
If Ɵ2 = 90◦, it called Critical angle .
Acceptance Angle and Acceptance cone
Acceptance Angle : It is the maximum angle made by the
incidence light ray with fiber axis, so that light can propagate
through the fiber after total internal reflection.
Acceptance Cone : In fiber
optics the cone within which
optical power may be
coupled into the bound
modes of an optical fiber.
Ɵmax (Ɵm) is called Acceptance angle
and 2Ɵm is called Acceptance
Cone.
Note: The acceptance cone is derived
by rotating the acceptance
angle about the fiber axis.
Definition of TIR
When the light travels from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index and
it strikes the boundary at more than the critical angle , all the light will be reflected back to the incident medium
(means it will not penetrate the second) this phenomenon in called total internal refraction (TIR).
Derivation for Acceptance angle
✓Let us consider an optical fiber having a
core with refractive index n1 and cladding
with refractive index n2 such that (n1> n2).
✓The refractive index of the launching
medium (or air) is n0. Let us consider a
light ray AO enters the fiber making an
angle Ɵi with its axis.
✓OB is the refracted ray that makes an
angle Ɵr with the axis and strikes core- ✓ However, for light propagation through the
cladding interface at an angle Ø, which is fiber, with condition that the value of angle Ø,
greater than critical angle Øc (Ø > Øc). should not be less than Øc.
Thus, it undergoes total internal reflection
at the interface.
Now, applying Snell’s Law at launching end
(1)
In right angled triangle OBL ,
(2)
When
(3)
Now, applying Snell’s Law at Core-cladding interface when
r=90
900
❑ The angle Ɵm is called the
acceptance angle of the fiber.
(4) ❑ Acceptance angle may be defined as
the maximum angle that a light ray
can have relative to the axis of the
Substituting this (4) into (3), we get
fiber and propagates down the fiber.
(5) ❑ The light rays contained within the
cone having a full angle 2Ɵm are
accepted and transmitted along the
Therefore acceptance angle fiber.
❑ This cone is therefore known as
acceptance cone.
(6)
Fractional Refractive Index Change
Fractional refractive index change or refractive index is the ratio of difference between the
refractive index of core and cladding to the refractive index of core. It is denoted by Δ. i.e.
Δ is always positive and generally of the order of 1/100
Numerical Aperture
➢It is a very important parameter, which is a measurement of amount of light that can be
accepted by the fiber.
➢ This angle is a measure of light gathering power of the fiber.
➢It is defined as the sine of the acceptance angle.
➢It is expressed as:
The values of NA are in the
range of 0.1 to 0.5
ATTENUATION OR TRANSMISSION LOSS
❖ Attenuation is the reduction of signal strength or light power over the length of the light-
carrying medium.
❖ It is the mainly result of light absorption, scattering and bending losses .
❖ It can be calculated in dB/km.
❖ Attenuation is the loss of optical power as light travels along the fiber, caused by
absorption, scattering, and bending losses. Signal attenuation is defined as the ratio of optical
input power (Pi) to the optical output power (Po). The following equation defines signal
attenuation as a unit of length:
