Introduction to Photonics Jan - April 2020

Tutorial 3 - Solutions
Introduction to Photonics

1. Light is guided within the core of an optical fiber by the total internal reflection at the
core–cladding interface.

2. For the light to be guided through the core of the fiber, the incidence angle at the core-
cladding interface should be more than the critical angle, θc . The limiting value of the angle
of incidence at the interface is π2 , as the ray passes along the interface then. So the incidence
angle, θ should be such that θc < θ < π2 .
In this case,
n2
θc = sin−1 = 80.5
n1
π
∴ 80.5°< θ < 2

3. Polarization of the beam: Locus of the tip of the electric field at a point in space as a function
of time. For simplicity let us calculate at y=0.

At wt =0, E ~ = E0 ẑ
At wt = π/2, E ~ = 2E0 x̂. From the above figure, we can say that the electric field is right
elliptically polarized.

4. Ans: 970-990 nm

2π
V = aN A
λ
2π
λ= aN A
V
For single mode operation, cut off wavelength (shortest wavelength),λc corresponds to a nor-
malized frequency, V =2.405.
2π
λc = aN A
2.405
2π × 2.5 × 10−6 × 0.15
=
2.405
= 979.7nm

5. Energy of the photon is,

E = hν
Introduction to Photonics Jan - April 2020

Since, h is the constant given as ,

h = 6.626 × 10−34 Js

E is proportional to frequency of the photon. ie. ν ↑, E ↑, So the ascending order based on

energy is same as ascending order based on frequency.
∴ EM icrowave < EV isiblelight < EX−rays < EGammarays

6. More the number of modes implies more the spatial frequencies. Spatial coherence degrades
on increasing the number of spatial frequencies.

7. Ans: 84.5 - 87
Given, condition for constructive interference for the modes considering reflections from upper
and lower boundary is
2π
n1 cos θim .2d + Φ1 + Φ2 = 2mπ
λ
Here λ = 650 × 10−9 nm, n1 = 1.45, n2 = 1.4, m = 1, d = 3 × 10−6 . Neglecting Φ1 and Φ2 , we
get
2π
n1 cos θim .2d = 2mπ
λ
mλ
cos θim =
2n1 d
Putting m = 1, we get
λ
θi1 = cos−1
2n1 d
650 × 10−9
= cos−1
2 × 1.45 × 3 × 10−6
◦
= 85.71

8. Ans: 85.5-87.5
The condition for constructive interference is

2π
n1 cos θim .2d + Φ1 + Φ2 = 2mπ
λ
Here Φ1 = Φ2 = Φ = 0.8rad
2π
n1 cos θi1 .2d + 2Φ = 2π
λ  
(2π − 2Φ)λ
cos θi1 =
2πn1 2d
(2π − 1.6) × 650 × 10−9
 
=
2π × 1.45 × 2 × 3 × 10−6
=⇒ θi1 = 86.80◦

9. The EM field components of a circularly polarized light have equal magnitudes with a phase
shift of π2 . Hence option c) is wrong.

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Introduction to Photonics Jan - April 2020

10. The optimum values of w0 /a can be approximated to better than 1% accuracy by the empirical
formula:

w0 3
= 0.65 + 1.619V − 2 + 2.879V −6
a
Given MFD, 2w0 = 11.6µm, V = 2.2

w0
a= 3
0.65 + 1.619V − 2 + 2.879V −6
5.8 × 10−6
= 3
0.65 + 1.619(2.2)− 2 + 2.879(2.2)−6
= 4.95 µm

Hence the fiber core diameter is 9.9 µm.

11. Ans: 70-80

The fraction of the power contained in the core is given by the confinement factor
w0 3
= 0.65 + 1.619V − 2 + 2.879V −6
a
2a2
 
Pcore
Γ= = 1 − exp − 2
Ptotal w0
w0
Here, a
=1.17, Substituting the values, we get Γ =0.76 ie. 76%
12. Refractive index of air, n0 =1. So numerical aperture is given by
N A = n0 sin θA
= sin(8.5)
= 0.148
p
13. It is known that N A = n21 − n22
q
⇒ n2 = n21 − N A2
√
= 1.4252 − 0.1482
= 1.417

14. Ans: 0.14-0.152

Since the numerical aperture is a property of the fiber and only depends upon n1 and n2 , it
will not change when the medium outside the fiber changes. So, NA = 0.148
15. Ans: 6-7
Since NA remains the same the cut-off angle, however, will have to change if the numerical
aperture is to be unaffected by a change in n0 . Here, NA = 0.148 & n0 = nwater = 1.33 .
N A = n0 sin θA
NA
⇒ θA = sin−1
n0
◦
= 6.38

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Introduction to Photonics Jan - April 2020

16. Ans: 7.5 -8.5

The maximum value of V number for a fiber which gives single-mode operation is 2.405.
Vλ
a= √
2πn1 2∆
2.405 × 1.556 × 10−6
= √
2π × 1.46 × 0.0052
= 4 µm

∴ the maximum core diameter of single-mode operation is 8 µm.

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