Introduction to

Optical Communication

Tuhina Samanta
Dept. of I.T.

7th semester, Broadband Communication 1

Course Outline : IT-703
• Fiber Optic Communication Principle,
Types of Optical Fiber, Single Mode Step
Index, Multimode Step Index and Grade
Index Fiber.
• Multiplicative Noise in Optical Fibers.
• Optical Source Detector.
• Transmitters and Receivers.

7th semester, Broadband Communication 2

Communication Systems
• Aim is increased data rate with lesser
loss, hence less number or repeaters
• Electrical communication– 300Hz.(audio
range) To 94GHz.(mm wave)
• Optical region – wavelength 0.3 to 300µm
• Invention of LASER (coherent source of
light) in 1960 creates the impetus to
harness e.m. spectrum in optical range
for communication purpose

7th semester, Broadband Communication 3

Wavelength Range
Visible spectrum 400-700nm

Microwave range IR region

UV region

30mm 3mm 300µ m 30µ m 3 µ m 0.3 µ m 0.03 µ m

Optical wave range

7th semester, Broadband Communication 4

 Wavelength
-Frequency
chart

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Medium for Transmission
• Optical waves obey E.M. theory
• Source is LASER (say)
• Transmission through free space – effective
for intersatellite communication; however
losses are there
• Collimated optical beam is used to reduce
diffraction loss by using lens waveguide
• Promising transmission medium is dielectric
waveguide in cylindrical form that is
sufficiently transparent at optical frequencies

7th semester, Broadband Communication 6

Optical Systems
• A system where light follows a zigzag path,
with radius of curvature decided for minimum
loss (R ~ d3/λ 2)
• A promising structure is dielectric waveguide
• Requirements for the transmission system
– Low transmission loss
– High b.w. and data rate
– High mechanical stability
– Easy and reproducible fabrication
– Low optical and mechanical degradation
– Low-loss coupling to system components, such as
sources and detectors

7th semester, Broadband Communication 7

Optical Fiber

& OF Cables

7th semester, Broadband Communication 8

Fiber Bundle

Optics-Hecht & Zajac Photo by American Cytoscope Makers Inc.

7th semester, Broadband Communication 9

Optical Systems Electrical signal
Electrical Optical Signal
Input Signal

Drive Light
Circuit Source
Transmitter
Optical Fiber

Amplifier Electrical
Output Signal

Optical Photo Signal

Detector Restorer
Amplifier
Receiver

7th semester, Broadband Communication 10

Optical
100
Fiber Transmission
Early 1970s

10

Second Window
First Window

Third Window
mk/ Bd noi t a unett A

1980s

1.55µ m

600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Wavelength (nm)
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Different Generation of OF
Systems

7th semester, Broadband Communication 12

Advantages of Optical Fiber
Communication Systems
• Wide bandwidth
– Single mode fiber can offer bit rate ~35-45Mbps at
1.3µm repeaterless over a distance of ~ 80kM.
• Elimination or reduction of repeaters
• Very thin, slightly thicker than human hair; large
number of fibers can be packed together
• Light weight
• Immune to electromagnetic interference
• Virtually unaffected by environmental extremes

7th semester, Broadband Communication 13

7th semester, Broadband Communication 14
 APPLICATIONS OF OPTICAL FIBER
1. LONG DISTANCE COMMUNICATION BACKBONES
2. INTER-EXCHANGE JUNCTIONS
3. VIDEO TRANSMISSION
4. BROADBAND SERVICES
5. COMPUTER DATA COMMUNICATION (LAN, WAN etc..)
6. HIGHT EMI AREAS
7. MILITARY APPLICATION
8. NON-COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS (sensors
etc…)

7th semester, Broadband Communication 15

Optical Fiber Characteristics
2a
Core (n1)

...

Cross section of a fiber Side view of a fiber

Cladding (n2)

Buffer Encapsulation

7th semester, Broadband Communication 16

Optical Fiber Characteristics
• Dielectric cylinder (Core) is an open structure
(surface waveguide) and it has a transverse
direction wave decaying exponentially outside
• Outer cladding reduces scattering loss
• If outside is air, n2 = 1; with a >> λ , the guide
becomes multimodal.
• Proper choice of n1 and n2 is required for good
and reliable fiber design.
• With n1/n2 slightly greater than 1, the core
size can be large with single mode operation, also
field becomes negligible outside the cladding.

7th semester, Broadband Communication 17

Step Index Fiber (SIF)
• Refractive index of a core is uniform
throughout the core and changes
abruptly at the core-cladding interface
n(r)

n1 Index profile :
n2 = n1 (1 - ∆ )
where ∆ is fractional index
difference and ∆ <<1
n2

-a 0 a
Refractive index profile of SIF

7th semester, Broadband Communication 18

Step Index Fiber
• Condition for single mode propagation

2πa 2
n1 − n2 < 2.405
2

λ
• Expression on the left is called V-number
• Hence for single mode V < 2.405
• Ex: with n1 = 1.450(silica glass), ∆ = 0.002, a = 5µm, fibre will remain
single mode for λ = 1.218µm

7th semester, Broadband Communication 19

Graded Index Fiber (GIF)
• Core refractive index is highest on the
axis and decreases gradually towards
core-cladding interface
Index profile:
n(r) n(r) = n1[1-∆ (r/a)α ]
for
n1
0≤r≤a
= n1(1 - ∆ ) = n2
n r≥a
2
where, α is called profile
parameter

-a 0 a
Refractive index profile of GIF

7th semester, Broadband Communication 20

Single Mode SIF

Ray
path

n1

n2

Core diameter: 8 – 12 µm
Cladding: 125 µm thick

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Multimode SIF

Ray
path

n1

n2

Core diameter: 50 – 200 µm

Cladding: 125 - 400 µm thick

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Multimode Graded Index Fiber

Ray
path

n1

n2

Core diameter: 50 µm
Cladding: 125 µm thick

7th semester, Broadband Communication 23