Fiber Types & Modes of Transmission

In fiber optics, the term “mode” refers to a stable propagation state of light down the fiber. Fibers can have any number of stable propagation states (modes), giving rise to two basic types of optical fibers, multimode and singlemode. Multimode obviously refers to a fiber that has many modes of propagation, while a singlemode, by design, only has one. Whether a particular fiber is multimode or singlemode depends on the fiber geometry, core/clad refractive indices, and the wavelength of operation. Multimode fibers can be further broken down into two subcategories, step-index and graded-index. Each type has distinctive advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed below in more detail.

Step-Index Multimode Fiber This was the first fiber type to find practical application, and continues to be in wide use today. A step-index multimode fiber allows the light to travel at many different angles within the fiber, thereby allowing many modes of propagation. The term "step" refers to the step function the refractive index takes at the core/clad interface.

A disadvantage to step-index multimode is bandwidth. Referring to the figure, the path the light takes down a step-index multimode fiber will be longer or shorter depending on the angle of propagation. This difference in path length causes the pulse of light to spread out during its journey down the fiber. This is known as modal dispersion (see Dispersion section). As one pulse spreads, it eventually interferes with the neighboring pulses, distorting the transmission signal. The longer the fiber length, the more severe this pulse spreading will become. However, this is only a problem in applications that require a coherent signal, as in communications links. Power delivery or sensor systems do not require coherent transmission and many data communication or industrial process control links are relatively short distances (less than 2km), allowing the widespread use of step-index multimode fiber.

There is a wide selection of step-index multimode fiber available. Sizes vary from ~50 to >2000µm core diameters. Their construction can be silica or plastic cladding using silica, plastic, or liquid as a core. There are also applications with no core called hollow waveguides. The silica constructions allow lower attenuation, greater spectral range, higher power handling capability, and greater environmental range. Plastic fibers offer lower cost and greater flexibility, but are limited in transmission and environmental properties. Hollow waveguides are used principally in the IR.

Polymicro offers a wide selection of step-index, multimode fibers, particularly for laser power delivery and stringent or harsh environmental conditions. Please refer to our data sheets.

Graded-Index Multimode Fiber  As the name implies, the refractive index of this fiber gradually decreases from the core out through the cladding, as opposed to the abrupt step change of step-index. Instead of taking a zigzag path down the fiber, the gradual change in refractive index directs the light in a sinusoidal path as previously illustrated. Since the light travels faster in a material of lower refractive index, the light traveling on the outer reaches of the graded region moves more quickly, thereby reducing the amount of pulse spreading. The result is a dramatic >25-fold increase in bandwidth over step-index multimode fibers.

Graded-index is actually a compromise between step-index multimode and singlemode fibers, trading off bandwidth for ease of termination and light launch. The graded profile and smaller core increases bandwidth over step-index multimode, but the core sizes are still large enough for convenient termination and use of lower cost diodes. In more recent years, the components and techniques for terminating singlemode has improved dramatically, so graded-index has seen a decline in market share. However, graded-index remains a popular standard for use in medium distance (2-15km) data communication links.

The most common core sizes for graded-index multimode fibers are 50, 62.5, and 100mm. These sizes have become industry standards. The construction is always silica core/silica clad based, with dopants (typically Ge, B, P, and F) used to adjust the refractive index in the graded profile. This fiber is used almost exclusively for medium distance data communication (local area networks), although it is sometimes used for fiber sensor systems. The smaller core area makes this fiber less useful for power delivery applications, however new special, larger core designs specifically for high power applications are available.

Singlemode Fiber  In singlemode fiber the core size is reduced to the point (5-10mm diameter) where only one mode, the primary mode, can be guided. This mode essentially travels straight through the fiber and thus is not subject to the pulse spreading seen in multimode fiber due to different path lengths. The net effect is a substantial increase in bandwidth since all the light is traveling at the same speed for the same distance. In addition, using the primary mode and higher operational wavelengths (1310 and 1550nm) results in very low attenuation. For these reasons, singlemode is the fiber of choice for long distance data and voice communication.

Singlemode does experience some distortion of the signal, but this is due primarily to chromatic dispersion, which is variation in light speed due to the pulse not being purely monochromatic. This type of dispersion is very small when compared to the modal dispersion experienced in multimode fibers.

Singlemode fiber typically consists of a silica core/silica clad construction with a step-index refractive index profile. The core and/or clad is doped to obtain the index difference between the core and clad. The core size, being very small, is more difficult and costly to terminate versus the multimode fibers, but for long distance systems this cost is acceptable. In contrast, the small core size does not allow a great deal of power input, and therefore this fiber is generally not suitable for power delivery and many sensor applications.

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