CETTM MTNL

Introduction to Optical fibres

Module Id: TGENIOF110

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CETTM
Introduction MTNL

 In 1870, John Tyndall demonstrated the

principle of guiding light through internal
reflections.
 In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell invented the
Photophone, which used unguided light to
carry speech.
 Major breakthrough was achieved with the
invention of laser in 1960.
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CETTM
Introduction MTNL

 In 1966, Charles K. Kao fabricated a low loss

glass fibre, giving a loss of 1000 dB/km.
 In 1970, Corning glass works, U.S.A.
developed a low loss fibre giving a loss of 20
dB/km.
 By 1972, losses were reduced to 4 dB/km.
 Today, the best fibres have a loss of < 0.2
dB/km.
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CETTM Types of Information Channels MTNL

 Unguided channels
Atmosphere is an unguided type of channel
over which waves can propagate.
 Guided channels
Two wire lines, coaxial cable and waveguide
are the examples of guided information
channels
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CETTM
Advantages of Guided Channels MTNL

 Privacy

 No weather dependence and

 The ability to convey messages within,

under and around physical structures.

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CETTM
Basic Fibre–Optic Link MTNL

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CETTM
Basic Fibre–Optic Link MTNL

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CETTM
Basic Fibre–Optic Link MTNL

When light passes from a medium with one

index of refraction (m1) to another medium with
a lower index of refraction (m2), it bends or
refracts away from an imaginary line
perpendicular to the surface (normal line).
As the angle of the beam through m1 becomes
greater with respect to the normal line, the
refracted light through m2 bends further away
from the line.

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CETTM
Basic Fibre–Optic Link MTNL

At one particular angle (critical angle), the

refracted light will not go into m2, but instead
will travel along the surface between the two
media (sine [critical angle] = n2/n1 where n1
and n2 are the indices of refraction [n1 is
greater than n2]).
If the beam through m1 is greater than the
critical angle, then the refracted beam will be
reflected entirely back into m1 (total internal
reflection), even though m2 may be
transparent!
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CETTM
Basic Fibre–Optic Link MTNL

 In physics, the critical angle is described with

respect to the normal line. In fiber optics, the
critical angle is described with respect to the
parallel axis running down the middle of the
fiber.
 The fiber-optic critical angle = (90 degrees -
physics critical angle).

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CETTM
Basic Fibre–Optic Link MTNL

 In an optical fiber, the light travels through the

core (m1, high index of refraction) by
constantly reflecting from the cladding (m2,
lower index of refraction) because the angle
of the light is always greater than the critical
angle.
 Light reflects from the cladding no matter
what angle the fiber itself gets bent at, even if
it's a full circle!

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CETTM
Basic Fibre–Optic Link MTNL

 Because the cladding does not absorb any light

from the core, the light wave can travel great
distances. However, some of the light signal
degrades within the fiber, mostly due to impurities
in the glass.
 The extent that the signal degrades depends
upon the purity of the glass and the wavelength of
the transmitted light (for example, 850 nm = 60 to
75 percent/km; 1,300 nm = 50 to 60 percent/km;
1,550 nm is greater than 50 percent/km).
 Some premium optical fibers show much less
signal degradation -- less than 10 percent/km at
1,550 nm.
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CETTM
Basic Fibre–Optic Link MTNL

 Transmitter - Produces and encodes the light

signals
 Optical fiber - Conducts the light signals over a
distance
 Optical regenerator - May be necessary to boost
the light signal (for long distances)
 Optical receiver - Receives and decodes the
light signals
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CETTM
Basic elements of Transmitters MTNL

Transmitter convert electrical signal to optical

signals which is transmitted through fibre:

 Electronic interfaces.
 Electronic processing circuits.
 Drive circuitry.
 Light source – LED/Laser.
 Optical interface.
 Output sensing and stabilization.
 Temperature sensing and control

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CETTM
Basic elements of an Optical Receiver MTNL

 Receiver- receives the optical signals from

the fibre and convert the same to its electrical
equivalent.
 Detector [PIN photodiode/APD (Avalanche
photodiode)]
 Detector used in fibre optical communications
are semiconductor photodiodes or
photodetectors which converts the received
optical signal into electrical form.
 Amplifier
 Decision circuits
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CETTM
Fibre Optics MTNL

 Optical fibre is a new medium, in which

information (voice, data or video) is
transmitted through a glass or plastic fibre, in
the form of light

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CETTM
Fibre Optics MTNL

The transmission sequences are :

 Information is encoded into electrical signals.
 Electrical signals are converted into light
signals.
 Light travels down the fiber.
 A detector changes the light signals into
electrical signals.
 Electrical signals are decoded into information
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CETTM
Advantages of Fibre Optics MTNL

 Optical Fibres are non conductive (Dielectric)

– Grounding and surge suppression not
required.
-- Cables can be all dielectric.
 Electromagnetic immunity
Immune to electromagnetic interference
(EMI)
– No radiated energy.
– Unauthorized tapping difficult.

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CETTM
Advantages of Fibre Optics MTNL

Large Bandwidth (> 50 GHz for 1 km length)

• Future upgradability

– Maximum utilization of cable right of way.

– One time cable installation costs.

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CETTM
Advantages of Fibre Optics MTNL

Low Loss (5 dB/km to < 0.25 dB/km typical)

Loss is low and same at all operating
speeds within the fiber's specified ban
Long, unrepeated links (> 70 km is
operation).
Inexpensive light sources available.
Repeater spacing increases along with
operating speeds because low loss
fibers are used at high data rates.

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CETTM Advantages of Fibre Optics MTNL

Small, light weight cables.

Easy installation and handling.
Efficient use of space.
Available in Long lengths (> 2 kms)
Less splice points
Security
Extremely difficult to tap a fiber as it does
not radiate energy that can be received by
a nearby antenna. Highly secure
transmission medium.

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CETTM Advantages of Fibre Optics MTNL

Security – Being a dielectric

It cannot cause fire.
Does not attract lightning.
It does not carry electricity.
 Can be run through hazardous areas.
Universal medium
Serve all communication needs.
 Non–obsolescence

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 Applications of Fibre Optics in
CETTM Communications MTNL

Common carrier nationwide networks.

Telephone inter–office trunk lines.
Customer premise communication networks.
Undersea cables.
High EMI areas (Power lines, Rails, Roads).
Factory communication/Automation.
High lightning areas.
Military applications.
Classified (secure) communication
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CETTM
Structure of Optic Fibre MTNL

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CETTM
Fibre Types MTNL

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CETTM
Structure of Optic Fibre MTNL

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CETTM
Structure of Optic Fibre MTNL

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CETTM
Structure of Optic Fibre MTNL

Single Mode Multi-mode Mode

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CETTM
Wave Parameters MTNL

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CETTM
STEP-Index Multimode Fiber MTNL

 It has a large core, up to 100 microns in diameter. As

a result, some of the light rays that make up the digital
pulse may travel a direct route, whereas others zigzag
as they bounce off the cladding.
 These alternative pathways cause the different
groupings of light rays, referred to as modes, to arrive
separately at a receiving point.
 The pulse, an aggregate of different modes, begins to
spread out, losing its well-defined shape.
 The need to leave spacing between pulses to prevent
overlapping limits bandwidth that is, the amount of
information that can be sent.

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CETTM Graded-INDEX Multimode FIBER MTNL

It contains a core in which the refractive index

diminishes gradually from the centre axis out toward the
cladding.
The higher refractive index at the centre makes the light
rays moving down the axis advance more slowly than
those near the cladding.
Also, rather than zigzagging off the cladding, light in the
core curves helically because of the graded index,
reducing its travel distance.
The shortened path and the higher speed allow light at
the periphery to arrive at a receiver at about the same
time as the slow but straight rays in the core axis. The
result: a digital pulse suffers less dispersion. 
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CETTM
Single-mode Fiber MTNL

It has a narrow core (eight microns or less), and

the index of refraction between the core and the
cladding changes less than it does for
multimode fibers.
Light thus travels parallel to the axis, creating
little pulse dispersion.

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