Fibre optics
Dr. SALINIGOPAL M S
Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Science
SCT, Pappanamcode
Module 1
• Fibre technology: The technology that transmits information as light pulses along a glass or
plastic fiber
• Conventional methods use radio waves (~ 106 𝐻𝑧 ) and microwaves (~ 109 𝐻𝑧 )
• Laser as a carrier wave can handle 109 simultaneous connections
Optical Fibres
• It is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly
thicker than that of a human hair
• Very thin cylindrical shaped transparent dielectric material surrounded by another transparent
dielectric material of comparatively low refractive index
• Inner cylindrical layer – core and Outer cylindrical layer – cladding
• Core has higher refractive index than that of cladding, 𝑛1 > 𝑛2
• n1- refractive index of core, 𝑛2 - refractive index of cladding
• Light admitted through one end of the core
• Propagated by repeated total internal reflection at the boundary
of core and cladding
PRINCIPLE OF PROPAGATION OF LIGHT
• Light propagates through the optical fibre by repeated total internal reflection at the core
– cladding boundary
• Total internal reflection is an optical phenomenon that happens when light travels from
light travels from a medium of lower refractive index to a medium of higher refractive
index.
• When light travels from a denser to a rarer medium, if the angle of incidence at the denser medium is
gradually increased, the angle of refraction in the rarer medium also increases obeying Snell’s law. At a
particular value of the angle of incidence, the angle of refraction becomes 90o. That angle of incidence is
called the critical angle. If the angle of incidence is further increased, instead of refraction, light
undergoes reflection and is reflected back to the same medium. That phenomenon is known as total
internal reflection.
Types of optical fibres
• Classification depends on how the total internal reflection (TIR) is achieved
• Total internal reflection is possible by the one step difference in refractive index between core
and cladding or by very small gradually diminishing steps
• Two typed of optical fibres are Step Index Fibre and Graded Index Fibre
Step Index Fibre
Graded Index Fibre
Step Index Fibre Graded Index Fibre
The refractive index of the core is uniform Core has gradually diminished refractive index
throughout its bulk
Refractive index decreases from n1 to n2 Core is surrounded by cladding which has
abruptly at the core cladding boundary constant refractive index
Variation profile is like step Gradual variation
Because of gradual diminishing, incident light
undergoes gradual bending towards the axis.
Finally reflected at the core cladding boundary
The diameter of the core is about 10μm The diameter of the core is about 50μm
The path of light propagation is zig-zag Path of light is helical
Repeated total internal reflection occurred and Cladding not only prevents the light escaping
light propagated but also add strength, flexibility and protection
to the fibre
Single mode Fibre Multimode Fibre
Core diameter of about 9 – 10 μm The diameter of the core is about 50μm
They provide a single path for light propagation They provided multiple paths for light
propagation
Attenuation is less Attenuation is higher
Widely used for long distance communication Widely used for short distance communication
Higher band width Lower band width
Higher cost due to more precise manufacturing Lower cost due to less precise manufacturing
requirements requirements
Numerical Aperture
• The maximum angle of incidence at the end face of a fibre for which light can propagate through it is
called acceptance angle for the fibre. Acceptance angle is the angle made by the incident light at the one
end of the core with its axis
• Numerical aperture is the measure of light gathering capacity of an optical fibre
• It is calculated as the sine of the maximum value of acceptance angle
𝑁. 𝐴. = 𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∝𝑚
Consider a step index fibre made of a core of refractive index 𝑛1 and a cladding of refractive index 𝑛2
(𝑛1 > 𝑛2 ). Figure shows a ray of light entering through one end, from air into the core at an acceptance
angle ∝. After refraction, the ray incident at the core-cladding interface at an angle (∅), which is greater
than the critical angle of the core-cladding interface. Hence it undergoes total internal reflection at the
boundary and proceed forward by a number of reflections as shown in figure.
Refractive index of core [Link] air,
𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∝
𝑛10 =
𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃
𝑛1 𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∝
𝑛10 = =
𝑛0 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃
𝑛0 𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∝ = 𝑛1 𝑆𝑖𝑛 θ ……………….(1)
𝜋
From fig., θ = − ∅
2
Eqn (1) becomes,
𝑛0 𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∝ =𝑛1 𝐶𝑜𝑠 ɸ
For critical rays, ∝ = ∝𝑚, θ = θ𝑚, ɸ = ɸ𝑐, critical angle
Therefore, 𝑛0 𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∝𝑚 = 𝑛1 𝐶𝑜𝑠 ɸ𝑐
Refractive index of core [Link], cladding is
𝑆𝑖𝑛 90 1
𝑛12 = =
𝑆𝑖𝑛ɸ𝑐 𝑆𝑖𝑛ɸ𝑐
1 𝑛2
𝑆𝑖𝑛ɸ𝑐 = =
𝑛12 𝑛1
Cos ɸ𝑐 =
𝑛12 − 𝑛22
Cos ɸ𝑐 = ………… (2)
𝑛1
𝑛12 − 𝑛22
N. A. = 𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∝𝑚 =
𝑛0
For air, 𝑛0 = 1
N. A. = 𝑺𝒊𝒏 ∝𝒎 = 𝒏𝟐𝟏 − 𝒏𝟐𝟐
Advantages of optical fibres
• Very high bandwidth and hence large information carrying capacity
• Cost effectiveness
• Extremely low transmission loss
• 100 μm diameter, made of silica and glass – results in reduction in volume and weight – make
cable laying easy and cheap. Hence it is considered as ideal choice for applications in aircraft
and space ships
• Immune to electromagnetic interference
• Can be used in explosive as well as high voltage environments due to the absence of any hazard
caused by short circuits
• It is made of silica and glass, which is abundant in nature and very cheap
Application in communication system
• Subscriber’s telephone : Here sound wave is converted to corresponding electrical signal (electrical
signals are in the form of analogue signals).
• Encoder : It converts continuous analogue signals into coded digital pulses, by means of an analogue to
digital converter
• Optical transmitter : it’s a semiconductor laser or an LED. Encoded signals are transmitted to optical
fibre. LED is ON and OFF according to the bit stream to be sent.
• Optical fibre : Encoded signals are transmitted through optical fibre to receiver side
• Photo detector : semiconductor photo detector which converts optical signal back into electric pulses
• Decoder : it converts digital pulses to analogue signal, by means of digital to an analogue converter.
• Subscriber’s telephone : here sound is reproduced
Applications of optical fibre
Industrial and Technological applications
• Used as sensors to measure displacement, pressure, temperature
• Used in security alarms
• Used to know the level of atmospheric pollution
• Remote monitoring and surveillance
• Cable TV, CCTV, LAN, WAN etc
• Signaling and decorative purpose
• Used in defense communication systems to control ships, aircrafts, submarines, missiles etc
• Transmission of digital data due to its high bandwidth
• To send a large number of telephone signals without any interference
Medical Applications
• As biosensors
• To examine heart, pancreas etc
• Used in endoscopy
• Gastroscope – to examine the stomach and to photograph tumors and ulcer
• Bronchoscope – to see upper passages of lungs
• Orthoscope - to see small spaces within joints