Understanding Single Mode Fiber and Cladding Materials

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    Optical Optical fibers
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the functioning of single mode optical fibers, specifically addressing how light travels within the fiber, the implications of bending the fiber, and the roles of core and cladding materials. Participants explore theoretical concepts, analogies, and the nature of light in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how light in single mode fiber does not hit the walls when the fiber is bent, suggesting a lack of understanding of total internal reflection.
  • Another participant explains that light is totally reflected due to the refractive indices of the core and cladding, mentioning the importance of the minimum bend radius to maintain power levels.
  • A correction is made regarding the terminology used, clarifying that the Brewster angle relates to polarization rather than total internal reflection.
  • Concerns are raised about the analogy of a single ray traveling down the center of the fiber, with one participant arguing that it oversimplifies the field nature of light and does not account for the electromagnetic properties described by Maxwell's equations.
  • One participant expresses confusion about the analogy and seeks further clarification, comparing it to the curvature of the Earth and questioning the validity of the example given.
  • A participant suggests that the outer material's different refractive index helps keep light within the fiber, while questioning if a lower refractive index material like air could also maintain total internal reflection.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriateness of analogies used to describe light behavior in optical fibers, and there is no consensus on the effectiveness of the single ray analogy. Additionally, the discussion on the implications of using air as cladding material remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note limitations in their understanding of the concepts discussed, and there are references to unresolved mathematical descriptions and the need for a more comprehensive understanding of electromagnetic fields in relation to light propagation.

dervast
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Hi i have some questions concerning optical fibers.. I want to know how the single mode fiber works.. I know that the light in sinle mode fiber travels across the middle of the fiber.. I can't understand why if we bend a little the fiber why the light don't hit the walls of the fiber?
Thx a lot
 
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The beam, will and does hit the sides. Optical fibers have a core and a cladding material which have Indexes of refraction such that when the beam hits the wall it will be totally reflected. A key word here is the Brewster Angle so some research on that. All optical fibers have a minimum bend radius, if you attempt to make a corner with a bend less then the minimum bend radius you will have high loss. As long as you stay within the specified bend radius you will maintain good power levels.
 
Integral, I think you mean the critical angle, Brewster angle has to do with the polarisation of reflected light.

Dervast, the conceptual picture of a single ray traveling down the centre of the fibre is an imperfect analogy as it does not consider the field nature of light. Ray analysis is really only applicable for fibres with many modes (about 8 or greater).

Claude.
 
Thanks for the correction Claude, this what happens when you dredge up 30yr old terms from your memory.:blushing:
 
Thx a lot but what do u mean by "the conceptual picture of a single ray traveling down the centre of the fibre is an imperfect analogy as it does not consider the field nature of light."

Why the signle ray ignores the nature of light?? I can't understand that... When i send a ray of light in a specific direction the light will continue moving in that direction.. One guy told me as a reply to this that the signle ray is too small as we are concerning the size of earth... When we move on the surface we can't understand the curved Earth because we are many times smaller than the Earth .. But still i don't think that the example is good enough for that... Because the single optical ray travels to the "air" and is not using trhe ground for that... Do u have to suggest me sth now?
Thx a lot
 
Thx a lot guys but i want to learn and if u have sometime please try to reply me... thanks a lot really
 
I'm certainly not overly knowledgeable about physics (I'm a freshman engineer), but I do remember seeing something about fiber optics in a physics book at some point in time. If you're asking why the light doesn't just leave the fiber optic as it turns a corner here, I think the outer material has a very different refractive index, so it bends the light correctly to make the light follow the bend. If the radius is to low, it will exit the wall (can it be too high as well?). I at least some of this is correct, and answers your question.
 
dervast said:
Thx a lot but what do u mean by "the conceptual picture of a single ray traveling down the centre of the fibre is an imperfect analogy as it does not consider the field nature of light."

Why the signle ray ignores the nature of light?? I can't understand that... When i send a ray of light in a specific direction the light will continue moving in that direction.. One guy told me as a reply to this that the signle ray is too small as we are concerning the size of earth... When we move on the surface we can't understand the curved Earth because we are many times smaller than the Earth .. But still i don't think that the example is good enough for that... Because the single optical ray travels to the "air" and is not using trhe ground for that... Do u have to suggest me sth now?
Thx a lot

Light is an electromagnetic field, so in order to obtain a complete description of light in an optic fibre, you need to obtain a description of the E and B fields in the fibre, which is done by solving Maxwell's equations. The ray analogy only considers the direction of propagation of the light.

For example, the shape of the guided mode in a single-mode fibre is a Bessel function, which is well approximated by a 2D Gaussian curve (this is easily verified through experiment). This can only be derived using Maxwell's equations, ray analysis alone cannot give this result.

P.S. I would disregard what this 'one guy' said, I don't think he really understood your question to be perfectly honest.

Claude.
 
we know that the cladding material is of lower refractive index than the inner core's refractive index.but what if instead of outer cladding glass material, air is used(which too has a lower refractive index)?would it also not cause TIR inside the core.
 

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