THE FIBER FORUM

Fiber Optic Communications

JOSEPH C. PALAIS
PRESENTED BY
Joseph C. Palais 2.1 2
Chapter 2
OPTICS REVIEW
Joseph C. Palais 2.1 3
Section 2.1
Ray Theory and Applications
Index of Refraction
n = c/v
c = 3 x 10
8
m/s, velocity of light in free space
v = velocity of light in the medium
n > 1, (usually)

Joseph C. Palais 2.1 4
Ray Theory and Applications
Material Index n
CO
2
1
Water 1.33
Glass ~1.5
Silicon 3.5
GaAs 3.35
Joseph C. Palais 2.1 5
REFLECTION
Reflection at a Boundary
Boundary
Normal
n
1
n
2

i
Boundary

t
Incident Ray
Reflected Ray
Transmitted Ray
Joseph C. Palais 2.1 6
REFLECTION
n
1
and n
2
are the indices of refraction for
medium 1 and 2 respectfully.
i
is the angle of
incidence to the normal.
r
is the angle of
reflection relative to the normal.
t
is the angle
of transmission relative to the normal.
It should be noted that
r
=
i .

Joseph C. Palais 2.1 7
REFLECTION
If any power crosses the boundary,
t
is
given in terms of Snells law:
sin
1
sin
2
1
sin sin
2
n
t
n
i
n
t i
n

(2.3)
Joseph C. Palais 2.1 8
sin
t

t
deg
0 20 40 60 80 100
0
0.5
1
The sin function
degrees
REFLECTION
The only angles with physical significance are
those between of 0 and 90
SINE FUNCTION
ANGLE
S
i
n

Joseph C. Palais 2.1 9
From Snells law:
If n
1
< n
2
, then sin(
t
) < sin(
i
) and
t
<
i
.
We conclude that transmitted ray is bent towards
the normal.
REFLECTION

i
n
1
n
2
Boundary
Normal
Joseph C. Palais 2.1 10
REFLECTION
If n
1
> n
2
, then sin(
t
) > sin(
i
) and
t
>
i
.

The transmitted ray is bent away from the normal.

i
n
1
n
2
Boundary
Normal