Optical Fiber Communication

Fall, 2016

Course Descriptions

The objective of the course is to provide a fundamental

understanding of light wave communication systems. It will provide
a practical introduction to the basic principles of optical fiber
systems and networks. The course will emphasize the physical
properties and operation of components(step and graded index
optical fibres that support single and multimode transmission,
various dispersion mechanisms, coherent (LASER) and incoherent
(LED) optical sources and PIN and APD optical receivers etc.) that
comprise optical systems. The basic elements of optical network
operation will also be described. The material will cover a broad
number of topics to allow the student to understand the underlying
principles of the field and to be prepared for more detailed study in
the form of advanced courses and/or research.

Course Objective
As a result of this course, it is expected that the student will
be able to:
1.

Explain the operation of optical fibers and their characteristics such

as attenuation and dispersion.

2.

Understand the operation of active optoelectronic semiconductor

components such as diode lasers, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
and photo detectors.

3.

Describe the operating principles of optical components such as

couplers and optical amplifiers.

4.

Use the operating characteristics of these devices to design an

optical link for specific distance and bandwidth goals.

5.

Explain the operation of Core and Access optical networks.

Course Overview

Introduction
Optics Overview
Light-wave Fundamentals
Integrated optic Waveguides
Optic Fiber Waveguides
Light Sources
Light Detectors
Couplers and Connectors
Distribution Networks and Fiber Components
Modulation
Noise and Detection
System Design

Topics to be covered In a Broader perspective

Fibers:
Step Index fibers, Graded Index fibers
Fibre Modes; Single Mode Fibre, Multimode Fibre
Signal Degradation in Fibers; Dispersion, MODE Coupling
and Loss Mechanics
Glass materials, fiber fabrication

Sources & Transmitters:

Light Emission Processes in Semiconductors

Light emitting Diodes (LEDs)
Semiconductor LASERS (Laser Diodes, LDs)
Modulation response
Source Fiber coupling

Topics to be covered In a Broader perspective

Devices:
Couplers and Connectors
Integrated Optic Waveguides

Detectors & Receivers:

Photo-detectors, Receivers
Receiver Noise & Sensitivity

Optical Amplifies:
Erbium Doped fiber amplifiers
Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers
RAMAN Amplification

Topics to be covered In a Broader perspective

Systems:
System Design: Power Budget & rise-time budget
Core Networks
Access Networks (PON and Types)

TRANSMISSION TECHNIQUES
A.

MEDIA
Open Wire Pairs, Twisted Pair Wires, Coaxial Cable Microwave
Links , Submarine Cables , Satellite Communications, Optical
Fiber

B.

TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGY
Multiplexing , Modulation , PCM, SDH

History repeats itself

FROM ANCIENT GREEKS

TO

21ST CENTURY

Why Optical Fibers ?

As mans need and hunger for communication increased, the amount of
bandwidth required increased exponentially.
Initially we used smoke signals, then horse riders for communicating. But these
ways were way to slow and had very little bandwidth or data caring capacity.

Then came the telephone and telegraph that used copper wires for
communication. But soon demand out striped the capacity and capability of
copper wires and data transport got added to voice communication. Then came
Coaxial copper cables, VHF and UHF Radios, Satellite but demand still outstripped
the supply.
It was not until Optical Fibers came on the scene that large
amount of communication bandwidth became economically
and easily available to everyone.
As an example 50,000 voice / data circuit copper cable is
massive in size and very expensive, while a single Optical
Fiber, the diameter of human hair, can carry 5,00,000
circuits of voice and data. This capacity is increasing day by
day as supporting electronics is developing. In itself the
capacity of Optical Fibers is limitless.

Transmission Media

Transmission Medium, or channel, is the actual

physical path that data follows from the transmitter
to the receiver.
Copper cable is the oldest, cheapest, and the most
common form of transmission medium to date.
Optical Fiber is being used increasingly for highspeed applications
11

Why optical communication?

Fiber Optic Communications

General Communication System

Information Source
Transmitter
Transmission Medium
Receiver
Information Destination

Optical Fiber

An Optical Fiber is a Dielectric Wave guide that

operates at Optical Frequencies . It is normally
Cylindrical in shape, Confines Electromagnetic
Energy in the form of Light with in its surfaces And
Guides it in a Direction Parallel to its Axis.
No. of voice channels in thousands

Freq Range 1014 to 1015 Hz

Fiber Optic Operational Wavelengths

850 nm - Multimode fiber

1310 nm - Multi and single mode fiber

1550 nm - Single mode long haul and transoceanic fiber

Fiber Optic Operational Wavelengths

What are Optical Fibers ?

Optical Fibers are thins long (km) strands of ultra pure
glass (silica) or plastic that

can transmit light from one end to another without much

attenuation or loss.

The glass used to make Optical Fibers is so pure that if the Pacific
Ocean was filled with this glass then we would be able to see the
ocean bottom form the surface.!!!!

Believed as repeater distances on long haul routes for

optical fibers vary from 50 to 150 km.

Optical Fiber
Optical fiber is a very thin strand of silica glass in geometry quite
like a human hair. In reality it is a very narrow, very long glass
cylinder with special characteristics.

Optical Fiber is a solid strand of glass made up of a core

and cladding

The information is transmitted through the core in the form

of a fluctuating beam of light.
Two or more layers of protective coating around the
cladding ensure that the glass can be handled without
damage.

Optical Fiber

Optical Fiber
Human hair
for comparison

Air
Coating
Cladding

50 80 m
Typical refractive indices:
Cladding:
ncl = 1.4440

Core

~6-10 m
125 m
~250 m

1 m = 1/1000000 m

Core:
nco = 1.4512
Light is guided along the core
by Total Internal Reflection
Cladding helps isolate light
from edge of fibre where
losses and scattering are high

Optical Fiber Cable Construction

Optical Cable

Steel Armoring

Polly-ethylene
sheet

Inner
Polly-ethylene
sheet

Slotted
Core

Fibers

Middle
Polly-ethylene
sheet

Strengthening
member

Corrugated
steel
tape

Optical Fiber Cross Section

Core

The central region of an optical fiber through which light is transmitted.

Glass or plastic with a higher index of refraction than the cladding

Carries the signal

Cladding

The glass layer surrounding the core of an optical fiber. The cladding must have a
lower index of reflection to keep the light in the core.

Glass or plastic with a lower index of refraction than the core

Core and cladding are made of pure fused silica.

Germanium dopant is added to core to raise the index of refraction

Buffer

Protects the fiber from damage and moisture

Jacket

Holds one or more fibers in a cable

Structure of Optical Fiber

Jacket 250um

10

5 to 10 um is standard , in

PTCL 9 um Core dia is used

Component Optical Fiber

Material
(fused silica SiO2)
Structure:
concentric arrangement
of core and cladding
Transmission:
Total Internal reflection
of light at the boundary
between core and
cladding

General Communication Systems

General Communication System

Information Source
Transmitter
Transmission Medium
Receiver
Information Destination

Optical Communication Systems

Optical Communication Systems

Generic block diagram of an optical communication system is shown.
Consists of three main elements
Optical Transmitter
Optical Communication channel
Optical Receiver

Optical communication systems can be classified into two broad

categories:
Guided light wave systems
Un guided light wave systems

Optical Communication Systems

Guided light wave systems

Here , the optical beam emitted by the transmitter
remains spatially confined.
As all guided optical communication systems currently
use optical fibers, the commonly used term for them is
fiber-optic communication systems.

Optical Communication Systems

Un guided lightwave systems

Here , the optical beam emitted by the transmitter
spreads in space, similar to the spreading of
microwaves.
Unguided optical systems are less suitable for
broadcasting applications than microwave systems
because optical beams spread mainly in the forward
direction (as a result of their short wavelength).
Their use generally requires accurate pointing between
the transmitter and the receiver.

Optical Communication Systems

In telecommunications, Free Space Optics (FSO)

is an optical communication technology that uses
light propagating in free space to transmit data
between two points.

FSO is useful where the physical connections by

the means of fiber optic cables are impractical
due to high costs or other considerations.

Optical Communication Systems

Free-space optical links can be implemented using infrared laser
light, although low-data-rate communication over short distances
is possible using LEDs.
Free Space Optics are additionally used for communications
between spacecraft.
Maximum range for terrestrial links is in the order of 2 to 3 km
(1.2 to 1.9 mi) but the stability and quality of the link is highly
dependent on atmospheric factors such as rain, fog, dust and
heat

Optical Communication System

Light from the Light source (LASER ) at the transmitting (Tx) end is modulated by
the electrical signal

Modulated light energy is fed into the Optical Fiber.

At the receiving end (Rx) this light energy is made incident on photo-sensors which
convert this light signal back to electrical signal.

Optical
Communication System
Optical
Transmission
System

Optical Communication System

Basic principle of light transmission

on Optical Fiber

Optical Communication Systems

Optical communication systems differ in principle from
microwave systems only in the frequency range of the
carrier wave used to carry the information.
Optical carrier frequencies are typically 200 THz
in contrast with the microwave carrier frequencies (1
GHz).
It is enormous potential bandwidth of optical
communication systems that is the driving force behind the
worldwide development and deployment of lightwave
systems.

Optical Fibers as a Communication Channel

Role of a communication channel is to transport the optical signal from transmitter
to receiver without distorting it.

Optical fibers are used in Access and Core networks as

communication channels because silica fibers can transmit light with losses as
small as 0.2 dB/km.

Design Issues
Attenuation
Optical power reduces / attenuates to only 1% after 100 km. For this
reason, fiber losses remain an important design issue and determines the
repeater or amplifier spacing of a long-haul lightwave system.
Fiber Dispersion
Another important design issue is fiber dispersion, which leads to
broadening of individual optical pulses with propagation.