Study of Bending Losses in Optical Fibers using

COMSOL

Ashitosh Velamuri

Center for Lasers and Photonics

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
[email protected]

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 1 / 23

Overview

1 Optical Fibers and Advantages

2 Bent Optical Fiber and Analysis

Geometric Effect
Stress Effect

3 Geometrically Exact Beam Theory (GEBT)

4 COMSOL Simulations

5 Simulation Results and Optimization

6 Bend Insensitive Fiber

7 Conclusions

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 2 / 23

Optical Fibers and Advantages

Material: Silica glass

Dimensions: In microns
Working principle: Total internal
reflection
Classification: Single and
Multi-mode fibers
Advantages:
Small size, easily installed
Low power loss
High transmission rate over
very long distances
Circulatory system that
nourishes our information
system

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 3 / 23

Overview

1 Optical Fibers and Advantages

2 Bent Optical Fiber and Analysis

Geometric Effect
Stress Effect

3 Geometrically Exact Beam Theory (GEBT)

4 COMSOL Simulations

5 Simulation Results and Optimization

6 Bend Insensitive Fiber

7 Conclusions

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 4 / 23

Bent Optical Fiber

FTTH: Fiber to the home networks

Bent at the tight corners of the walls
Bending of fibers cause severe power
loss
Bending range: 3 − 10 mm bend radius
Macro bending: bend radius >> fiber
dimensions
Micro bending: bend radius ≈ fiber
dimensions

0
Picture Reference: (a) https://www.rp-photonics.com/fibers.html
(b) https://www.fiberoptics4sale.com/blogs/archive-posts/95053062-fiber-optic-cable-
installation-overview
Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 5 / 23
Geometric Effect: Conformal Mapping

Equivalent straight waveguide

approximation
Bent wave guide in Z-plane is
mapped to straight wave guide
in W-plane
Modified Index @ point A ↓, @
point B ↑
Refractive index of equivalent
waveguide is obtained using
conformal mapping1
 x
nG ≈ n 1 +
R
1
Schermer, Ross T., and James H. Cole, Improved bend loss formula verified for
optical fiber by simulation and experiment, IEEE JQE 43.10 (2007)
Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 6 / 23
Stress Effect

Compression @ point (i),

Elongation @ point (ii)
Modified Index @ point (i) ↑, @
point (ii) ↓
Stress effect counters geometric
effect
Conventional approach:
Elasto-optic factor in conformal  
mapping Reff = 1.28 − 1.31R 1 2 x
nG +S =n 1+
Reff
1
Schermer, Ross T., and James H. Cole, Improved bend loss formula verified for
optical fiber by simulation and experiment, IEEE JQE 43.10 (2007).
2
Renner, Hagen, Bending losses of coated single-mode fibers: a simple approach,
JLT, 10.5 (1992).
Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 7 / 23
Overview

1 Optical Fibers and Advantages

2 Bent Optical Fiber and Analysis

Geometric Effect
Stress Effect

3 Geometrically Exact Beam Theory (GEBT)

4 COMSOL Simulations

5 Simulation Results and Optimization

6 Bend Insensitive Fiber

7 Conclusions

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 8 / 23

Geometrically Exact Beam Theory (GEBT)

Captures bending of the fiber and calculates strain tensor

corresponding to the bend radius3
Strain tensors are employed in to stress-optic law to obtain modified
refractive index
GEBT
zx }| x x{
   i
h n2   

nS (x, y ) = n(x, y ) 1 − P11 1 + P12 (2 + 3 )
2
P11 = 0.113 and P12 = 0.252 are stress optic coefficients
1 , 2 , 3 are the principle strains obtained from GEBT
Modified refractive index = GEBT + Stress-Optic law + Conformal
mapping  x
nG +S = nS 1 +
R
3
Simo, Juan C, A finite strain beam formulation. The three-dimensional dynamic
problem. Part I, Computer methods in applied mechanics and engineering 49.1 (1985)
Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 9 / 23
Overview

1 Optical Fibers and Advantages

2 Bent Optical Fiber and Analysis

Geometric Effect
Stress Effect

3 Geometrically Exact Beam Theory (GEBT)

4 COMSOL Simulations

5 Simulation Results and Optimization

6 Bend Insensitive Fiber

7 Conclusions

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 10 / 23

Geometry and Material Properties

Geometry: 2D cross section of

optical fiber (G652)
Core radius a = 3.05 µm
Cladding radius b = 62.5 µm
PML thickness = 7λ
Refractive index profile4
r  r 2 1.46
Straight Fiber
n(r ) = nmax 1 − 2∆ 1 − G+S Effect
Reff=1.28R
a 1.455

Refractive Index
1.45
2 −n2
nmax
∆= 2
2nmax
clad 1.445

1.44

nmax =1.456, nclad = 1.444 1.435

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30
Radial Parameter (um)
4
Watekar, Pramod R., Seongmin Ju, and Won-Taek Han, Design and development of
a trenched optical fiber with ultra-low bending loss, Op Exp 17.12 (2009)
Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 11 / 23
Simulation Parameters

Module: Wave Optics

Physics: Electromagnetic wave,
frequency domain (ewfd)
Solve the wave equation

∇ × ∇ × E~ − k02 r E~ = 0

Mesh: Free triangular mesh with

fine element size
Study: Mode Analysis, solve for
the effective index of the modes

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 12 / 23

Overview

1 Optical Fibers and Advantages

2 Bent Optical Fiber and Analysis

Geometric Effect
Stress Effect

3 Geometrically Exact Beam Theory (GEBT)

4 COMSOL Simulations

5 Simulation Results and Optimization

6 Bend Insensitive Fiber

7 Conclusions

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 13 / 23

Simulation Results

103
Simulation
Ref. [5]

102

Bend Loss (dB/turn)

101

100

10-1
6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Bend Diameter (mm)

Straight Fiber neff ≈ 1.4475

Bent Fiber neff ≈ 1.4464 − i1.3275e − 5
20 2π
Loss[dB/turn] = × Im{neff } × 2πR
ln(10) λ
Simulation results are compared with formula given in5
5
Marcuse, Dietrich, Curvature loss formula for optical fibers, JOSA 66.3 (1976):
Ashitosh V ([email protected])
216-220 Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 14 / 23
Perfectly Matched Layer

Perfectly matched layer (PML)

Absorbs unwanted reflections
from cladding boundary
Question 1: Do we really require
a PML here?

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Perfectly Matched Layer

Perfectly matched layer (PML)

Absorbs unwanted reflections 1.8
Bend Diameter = 9.5 mm
from cladding boundary

Imaginary Part of Effective Index × 10 -5

1.6 Bend Diameter = 11.5 mm
Bend Diameter = 15.5 mm
1.4
Question 1: Do we really require
1.2
a PML here?
1
Yes 0.8

Question 2: What is the 0.6

thickness we need to apply? 0.4

0.2
PML thickness varied from
0
1λ − 7λ 1 2 3 4 5
PML Thickness × λ (µ m)
6 7

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Mesh Element Size

COMSOL solves this problem

15
using full-vectorial finite element Bend Diameter = 13.5 mm
Bend Diameter = 9.5 mm
method (FEM) mode solver

Bend Loss (dB/turn)

Bend Loss (dB/turn)

Mesh element size along with 2.2 14

the type of mesh applied has its

influence on the end results
2 13
Fine element size was applied in

Coarse

Normal

Finer

Extra Fine

Extremely Fine
Fine
Extremely Coarse

Extra Coarse

Coarser
the simulations as the variation
in bend loss is minimal in the
Mesh Element Size
region of interest

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 17 / 23

Overview

1 Optical Fibers and Advantages

2 Bent Optical Fiber and Analysis

Geometric Effect
Stress Effect

3 Geometrically Exact Beam Theory (GEBT)

4 COMSOL Simulations

5 Simulation Results and Optimization

6 Bend Insensitive Fiber

7 Conclusions

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 18 / 23

Bend Insensitive Fiber

Designed to reduce bend loss induced in a fiber

Mode field diameter (MFD) optimized BIF’s
Mode field is confined inside the core
Bend Loss reported (experimentally): 1 to 1.7 dB/turn at 1550 nm
wavelength
Reduction of MFD is limited to 6 − 7µm, to avoid incompatibility with
existing single mode fibers4
Low index trenched BIF’s
Addition of low index trench in cladding
Reduces cladding effective index and the loss induced when bent
Lower losses reported

4
Watekar, Pramod R., Seongmin Ju, and Won-Taek Han, Design and development of
a trenched optical fiber with ultra-low bending loss, Op Exp 17.12 (2009)
Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 19 / 23
BIF Index Parameters

Trench Parameters:
Trench depth
∆ntrench = nclad - ntrench 1.46
Straight Fiber
Distance of trench from core b G+S Effect
1.455
Trench width c

Refractive Index
Optimization following standard 1.45

ITU-T recommendations4
∆ntrench = 0.002 1.445

b/a = 2.12
1.44
c/a = 2.84
GEBT + Conformal mapping + 1.435
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30
COMSOL Simulations to BIF Radial Parameter (um)

4
Watekar, Pramod R., Seongmin Ju, and Won-Taek Han, Design and development of
a trenched optical fiber with ultra-low bending loss, Op Exp 17.12 (2009)
Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 20 / 23
BIF: Simulation Results

Addition of trench has reduced 102

the bend loss induced in the
100
fiber

Bend Loss (dB/turn)

10-2
Bend radius: 5 mm @ 1550 nm
wavelength 10
-4

Experiments4 = 0.014 ± 0.0023 10-6

dB/turn
10-8
Simulation - Standard Fiber
Simulations = 0.0119 dB/turn -10
Simulation-BIF
10
6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Bend Diameter (mm)

4
Watekar, Pramod R., Seongmin Ju, and Won-Taek Han, Design and development of
a trenched optical fiber with ultra-low bending loss, Op Exp 17.12 (2009)
Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 21 / 23
Conclusions

Analytical approach and semi analytical formulas derived1 2 5 are

applicable for simple refractive index profiles
Proposed a new method to estimate bend losses in optical fiber with
arbitrary index profiles.
Applied GEBT and conformal mapping to obtain modified refractive
index.
Wave optics module, ewfd physics, mode analysis study and free
triangular mesh of COMSOL are used in solving the wave equation
PML thickness and mesh element size are optimized to minimize any
variations in simulation results
Simulation results for standard G652 fiber along with bend insensitive
fiber are presented.

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 22 / 23

References

Schermer, Ross T., and James H. Cole

Improved bend loss formula verified for optical fiber by simulation and experiment
IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics 43.10 (2007): 899-909.

Renner, Hagen
Bending losses of coated single-mode fibers: a simple approach Journal of
Lightwave technology 10.5 (1992): 544-551.

Simo, Juan C
A finite strain beam formulation. The three-dimensional dynamic problem. Part I
Computer methods in applied mechanics and engineering 49.1 (1985): 55-70.

Watekar, Pramod R., Seongmin Ju, and Won-Taek Han

Design and development of a trenched optical fiber with ultra-low bending loss
Optics Express 17.12 (2009): 10350-10363.

Marcuse, Dietrich
Curvature loss formula for optical fibers JOSA 66.3 (1976): 216-220.

Ashitosh V ([email protected]) Study of Bend Loss using COMSOL 23 / 23