Computer Engineering Al-Mammon University

Techniques Dept. College

‫كلية المأمون الجامعة‬

Types of Optical Fibers

This report is submitted to

MSC. Hamid Noori Samarmed

To obtain the required degree for

these annual reports of all
academic subjects

BY
Mussab Mohammed Adnan
There are three main types of optical fibers.

1-Single-mode optical fiber

2-Multimode optical fiber with stepped index

3-Multimode optical fiber with graded-index

4-Microstructured optical fibers: - are a new type of optical fibers that are different from the above
three in a few areas. The core difference is the way in which light is controlled in single/multimode
fibers and microstructured optical fibers.

Q/ Why should you know about all these different types of optical fibers?

Using different types of optical fibers for communication has practicality associated with it.
Communication engineers or network technicians need to be aware of their basics well before
designing a network of optical fibers so that they can make quick decisions. The various types of
optical fibers listed above come with varying degrees of costs, functionalities, back draw, types of
end devices like transceivers, and skills required to work with them. Knowing about them will help
you to make a smart trade-off based on your requirements.

(Single-mode, multi-mode.)

Q/ what is the mode theory?

We intend to transfer data using light. Hence, we are using optical fibers, which are special cables
That can guide a light beam. That essentially makes them waveguides because light is a wave.
To understand the behavior of electromagnetic waves in waveguides, we use a theory known as
Mode theory. The mode theory (this is a bit of an oversimplification) essentially classifies
Electromagnetic waves based on wavelengths into different modes.
 Single-mode optical fiber

1- As the name suggests, this type of optical fiber transmits only one mode of light. To put it
another way, it can carry only one wavelength of light across its length.

2-This wavelength is usually 1310nm or 1550nm.

3-You would think that this limits its capabilities of transferring more data. But single-mode type
of optical fibers is much better than multimode optical fibers as they have more bandwidth and
experience fewer losses. So the speed is unmatched.

4-Interestingly, single-mode fibers came into existence after multimode fibers. They are more
recent than the multimode cables.

5-These cables can carry only one mode, physically, by having a tiny core. That is to say that
the diameter of the core is essentially of the same order as the wavelength of the light passing
through it.

6-Only lasers are used as a light source. To point out, the light used in single-mode fibers are
not in the visible spectrum.

7-Since the light travels in a straight direction, there are fewer losses, and it can be used in
applications requiring longer distance connections.

8-A distinct disadvantage of single-mode fiber is that they are hard to couple.
 Multimode optical fiber

1-As the name implies, these types of optical fibers allow multiple modes of light to travel along
their axis.

2-To explain physically, they can do this by having a thicker core diameter.

3-The wavelengths of light waves in multimode fibers are in the visible spectrum ranging from
850 to 1300 nm.

4-The reflection of the waves inside the multimode fiber occurs at different angles for every
mode. Consequently, based on these angles, the number of reflections can vary.

5-We can have a mode where the light passes without striking the core at all.

6-We can have a slightly higher mode, which will travel with appropriate internal reflections.

7-Since the basis of optical fiber, communication is a total internal reflection, all modes with
incident angles that do not cause total internal reflection get absorbed by the cladding. As a
result, losses are created.

8-We can have higher-order modes, waves that are highly transverse to the axis of the
waveguide can reflect many times. In fact, due to increased reflections at unusual angles, higher-
order modes can get completely lost inside the cable.

9-Lower order modes are moderately transverse or even completely straight and hence fare
better comparatively.
  There are two types of multimode optical fibers:

1-Stepped index multimode optical fiber and

2-Graded-index multimode optical fiber.

 Stepped index multimode fiber

The refractive index of the core of the multimode is uniform throughout the cable.

 Graded-index multimode fiber

The refractive index of the core changes radially from the center of the core to its surface.
Q/How does this matter?

If you look at the figure of stepped and graded-index multimode fibers shown above, you will notice that the
waves in stepped index fiber arrive at the same point at different times. This is because multiple modes have
different velocities. As a result, outputs are out of sync, and this reduces bandwidth. This is called intermodal
dispersion/distortion.
However, this issue can be mitigated by using graded-index fibers. Since the refractive index changes radially,
the higher-order modes are bent towards the lower order modes, and as a result, they are synchronized in
time.

Microstructured optical fibers

These are the new types of optical fiber cables. They have an entirely different concept of using light for
communication.

In the types of optical fibers mentioned above, light travels due to total internal reflection and refractive
indices of the core and cladding.

In microstructured optical fibers, the physical structure of the waveguide is used at a nano-scale level to
manipulate light.

Different types of microstructured optical fibers are

1-Photonic Crystals

2- Air-clad or double-clad fibers

3-Fresnel fibers
Single Mode vs Multimode Fiber Distance

It’s known that single mode fiber is suitable for long-distance applications, while multimode optical
fiber is designed

for short-distance runs. Then when it comes to single mode vs multimode fiber distance, what’s the
quantifiable differences?

Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber Cable Distance
Type

Fast Ethernet 1Gb Ethernet 10Gb Base 25Gb Base 40Gb Base 100
1Gb Ethernet 1000BA SE-LX
100BA SE-FX 1000BASE-SX SE-SR SR-S SR4

Single mode
OS2 200m 5,000m 5,000m 10km / /
fiber

OM1 200m 275m / / /

OM2 200m 550m / / /

Multimode 550m (mode conditioning
OM3 200m 550m 300m 70m 100m
fiber patch cable required)
OM4 200m 550m 400m 100m 150m

OM5 200m 550m 300m 100m 400m

From the chart, we can see that single mode fiber distance is much longer than that of multimode fiber cables at

the data rate from 1G to 10G, but OM3/OM4/OM5 multimode fiber supports a higher data rate. Because multimode

optical fiber has a large core size and supports more than one light mode, its fiber distance is limited by modal

dispersion which is a common phenomenon in multimode step-index fiber. While single mode fiber is not. That’s

the essential difference between them. In addition, OS2 single mode fiber could support longer distances in 40G

and 100G links, which is not listed in the table.

Single Mode vs Multimode Fiber Cost

“Single mode vs multimode fiber cost” is a hot topic in some forums. Numbers of people have
expressed their own opinions. Their views mainly focus on the optical transceiver cost, system cost
and installation cost.

Optical Transceiver Cost

Compared to single-mode transceivers, the price of multimode transceivers is nearly two or three
times lower. The following table takes FS.COM Cisco compatible single-mode transceivers and
multimode transceivers as an example.

Price
Speed Transceiver Transceiver Description Price
Difference

Cisco GLC-LH-SMD Compatible 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP

Single mode SFP US$ 7.00
1310nm 10km DOM Transceiver
1G US$ 1.00
Cisco GLC-SX-MMD Compatible 1000BASE-SX SFP
Multimode SFP US$ 6.00
850nm 550m DOM Transceiver

Cisco SFP-10G-LR Compatible 10GBASE-LR SFP+

Single mode SFP+ US$ 24.00
1310nm 10km DOM Transceiver
10G US$ 6.00
Cisco SFP-10G-SR Compatible 10GBASE-SR SFP+
Multimode SFP+ US$ 24.00
850nm 300m DOM Transceiver

Single mode SFP28 Cisco SFP-25G-LR-S Compatible 1310nm 10km US$ 59.00
25G US$ 20.00
Multimode SFP28 Cisco SFP-25G-SR-S Compatible 850nm 100m US$ 39.00

Single mode Cisco QSFP-40G-LR4 Compatible 40GBASE-LR4 and

US$ 279.00
QSFP+ OTU3 QSFP+ 1310nm 10km LC DOM Transceiver
40G US$ 240.00
Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 Compatible 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+
Multimode QSFP+ US$ 39.00
850nm 150m MTP/MPO DOM Transceiver

Single mode QSFP28 Cisco QSFP-100G-LR4-S 100GBASE-LR4

US$ 499.00
QSFP28 1310nm 10km Compatible Transceiver
100G US$ 400.00
Multimode QSFP28 Cisco QSFP-100G-SR4-S Compatible
US$ 99.00
QSFP28 100GBASE-SR4 850nm 100m Transceiver

From the table, we can see that the price difference gains greatly with the speed increasing .System
Cost
To utilize the fundamental attributes of single mode fibers, which are generally geared towards
longer distance

applications, requires transceivers with lasers that operate at longer wavelengths with smaller spot-
size and

generally narrower spectral width. These transceiver characteristics combined with the need for
higher-precision

alignment and tighter connector tolerances to smaller core diameters result in significantly higher
transceiver costs

and overall higher interconnect costs for single mode fiber interconnects.
Fabrication methods for VCSEL based transceivers that are optimized for use with multimode
fibers are more

easily manufactured into array devices and are lower cost than equivalent single-mode
transceivers. Despite the

use of multiple fiber lanes and multi-transceivers arrays, there are significant cost savings over
single-mode

technology employing single or multichannel operation over simplex-duplex connectivity.

Multimode fiber system

offers the lowest system cost and upgrade path to 100G for standard-based premises applications
using parallel-

optic based interconnects.

Installation Cost

Single-mode optical fiber often costs less than multimode fiber. When building a 1G fiber optic
network that you

want to be able to go to 10G or faster on eventually, the savings on cost of fiber for single-mode
saves about half-

price. While the multimode OM3 or OM4 fiber increases 35% in cost for SFP modules. The single-
mode optics are

more expensive, but the labor costs of replacing the multimode are significantly higher, especially
if that followed

OM1—OM2—OM3—OM4. If you are willing to look at used ex-Fiber Channel SFPs, the price of
single-mode 1G

drops through the floor. If you have the budget and need for 10G short connections, the
economics at last check

still support multimode. Keep an eye on those economics though, as history suggests that the
price premium for

single-mode will drop.

Q: What is better single mode or multimode fiber?
A: As has mentioned above, single mode fiber and multimode fiber cable have their own advantages
on cost and applications. There is no such thing that single mode optical fibers are better than
multimode ones. Just choosing the best-fit one for your applications is ok.

Q: Can I mix single mode and multimode fiber?

A: This answer for this question is “no”. Multimode fiber and single mode fiber have different core
sizes, and the number of light modes that they transmit is also different. If you mix the two fibers, or
connect them together directly, you’ll lose a large amount of optical loss, resulting in a link flapping
or being down. Keep in mind that never mix different types of cabling randomly.

Q: Single mode vs multimode Fiber: which should I choose?

A: When making a decision between single mode and multimode fiber cables, the first factor to
consider is the fiber distance which you need actually. For example, in a data center, multimode
fiber cables are enough for the distance of 300-400 meters. While in applications that require
distance up to several thousands of meters, the single mode fiber is the best choice. And in
applications that can use single mode and multimode fiber, other factors like cost and future upgrade
requirements should be taken into consideration for your choice.