OPE4701/101/0/2019

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2019

Opto-Electronics IV (Theory)
OPE4701

Year module

Department of Electrical and Mining

Engineering

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 4
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 4
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Prescribed books .......................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 Recommended books ................................................................................................................... 4
4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)................................................................................................. 5
4.4 Library services and resources information ................................................................................... 5
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 5
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 5
7 PRACTICAL WORK ..................................................................................................................... 5
8 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 5
8.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 5
8.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 6
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................... 6
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 6
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 6
8.4 Assignments due dates ................................................................................................................. 6
8.5 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 6
8.6 The assignments .......................................................................................................................... 8
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 19
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 19
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 19
10 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 19
11 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 19
12 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 19

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1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student
Welcome to the subject Opto-Electronics IV (Theory) (OPE4701) at UNISA. This tutorial letter
serves as a guideline to this subject. It provides you with general administrative information as
well as specific information about the subject. Read it carefully and keep it safe for future
reference. We trust that you will enjoy this course.

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose
The study of optics and electro-optics concerns the generation of electromagnetic waves, the
transmission of information through optical systems as well as the detection of the information.
In general electro-optics can be summarised as:
- the generation of electromagnetic radiation,
- the transmission of radiation through free space or interaction with other materials,
- modification of radiation by free space or by interaction with other materials,
- image formation and optical signal processing with various optical systems,
- detection of radiation.

2.2 Outcomes
The outcomes of this module are to enable the student to:

- study definitions such as acceptance angle, numerical aperture, normalised

frequency, cut-off wavelength spot size and mode field diameter,
- study and apply the concepts of modes in multimode and single mode fibres
although a detailed theoretical analysis is not necessary,
- study dispersion and pulse broadening effects,
- study, and apply in detail the effect of total dispersion which is a combined effect
of intramodal (chromati3) dispersion and intermodal dispersion, and the effect of
dispersion on the fibre bandwidth.
- summarise different fiber manufacturing techniques, specifications and
characteristics of various fibre types, and fibre joining,
- summarise basic operation of lasers including concepts such as absorption,
stimulated and spontaneous emission, population inversion, optical feedback and
lasing threshold, and principles and characteristics of pn-junctions and
semiconductor lasers,
- apply operational principles, characteristics and modulations techniques of LED’s,
- apply operational principles and characteristics (absorption, efficiency,
responsivity, wavelength cut-off) of optical detectors,

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 - study, and apply noise sources in optical detectors and amplifier circuits as well as
amplifiers and receiver structures, system design considerations, digital systems
and analogue systems,
- study and apply the principles of coherent detection systems, sensitivities and
practical considerations,
- study and apply fibre system measurements (attenuation, dispersion, refractive
index, numerical aperture, mode field and fibre diameter).
-

3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer(s)

Your Lecturer for Opto-Electronics IV is MF GROBLER.

You can contact him on:
Tel nr : (011) 559-4081/6116
e-mail: michaelg@uj.ac.za
Contact Times : Mondays to Fridays
08h00 to 15h00

3.2 Department
Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering: electrical&mining@unisa.ac.za

3.3 University

If you need to contact the University about matters not related to the content of this module,
please consult the publication My studies @ Unisa that you received with your study material.
This brochure contains information on how to contact the University (e.g. to whom you can write
for different queries, important telephone and fax numbers, addresses and details of the times
certain facilities are open).Always have your student number at hand when you contact the
University.

4 RESOURCES
4.1 Prescribed books
Senior, J M, 3rd ed., 1992. Optical Fiber Communication Principles and Practice. PRENTICE-
HALL. ISBN 0-13-635426-2.

4.2 Recommended books

There are no recommended books for this module.

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4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)

There are no electronic reserves for this module.

4.4 Library services and resources information

For brief information, go to www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

For detailed information, go to the Unisa website at http://www.unisa.ac.za/ and click on
Library.
For research support and services of personal librarians, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=7102.

The Library has compiled numerous library guides:

• finding recommended reading in the print collection and e-reserves –

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/undergrad
• requesting material – http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• postgraduate information services – http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• finding , obtaining and using library resources and tools to assist in doing research –
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_Skills
• how to contact the library/finding us on social media/frequently asked questions –
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Important information appears in your my Studies @ Unisa brochure.

6 STUDY PLAN
Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills.

7 PRACTICAL WORK
The practical part of this module will be covered in the module OPEPRA4.

8 ASSESSMENT

8.1 Assessment criteria

Your final mark will be calculated by using a ratio of 20% year mark and 80% examination mark.

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8.2 Assessment plan
You will find your assignments for this subject in this Tutorial Letter. Assignment 1, 2
and 3 are compulsory and all assignments will be used in the calculation of your year
mark. Please send the completed assignments to UNISA before the closing dates stated
in this section.

Assignment 1 must be completed on a mark reading sheet.

The mark for Opto-Electronics IV (Theory) (OPE4701) is calculated as follows:

• The year mark contributes to 20%.
• The examination mark contributes to 80%

The year mark is based on all the assignment marks obtained and their contribution towards the
final year mark are as shown in the table below:

ASSIGNMENT CONTRIBUTION
NUMBER TOWARDS YEAR
MARK
1 (Compulsory) 10%

2 (Compulsory) 45%

3 (Compulsory) 45%

TOTAL = 100 %

8.3 Assignment numbers

8.3.1 General assignment numbers
Assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01.

8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers

Assignment 1: 885251
Assignment 2: 808220
Assignment 3: 898515

8.4 Assignments due dates

THE CUT-OFF SUBMISSION DATES FOR THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE :

Assignment 1: 22 May 2019
Assignment 2: 18 July 2019
Assignment 3: 5 September 2019

8.5 Submission of assignments

ALL ASSIGNMENTS (submitte4) HAVE TO BE ATTEMPTED!!!!!!!

THE SUBMISSION OF AN EMPTY ASSIGNMENT COVER IS UNACCEPTABLE.

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IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS :

• NO LATE ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

• KEEP A CLEAR COPY OF THE ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR OWN REFERENCE.

THIS IS IMPORTANT, AS ASSIGNMENTS DO GET LOST.

• SUBMISSIONS OF ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH “MY

STUDIES @ UNISA”.

Please note that model answers for the assignments will be dispatched to all
students within 1 week of the closing date of the assignment. This implies that
you cannot submit your assignment later than the stipulated submission date.

For detailed information and requirements as far as assignments are concerned, see the
brochure my Studies @ Unisa that you received with your study material.

To submit an assignment via myUnisa:

• Go to myUnisa.
• Log in with your student number and password.
• Select the module.
• Click on assignments in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
• Click on the assignment number you wish to submit.
• Follow the instructions.

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8.6 The assignments

THE CUT-OFF SUBMISSION DATES FOR THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE :

Assignment 1: (Compulsory) 22 May 2019
Assignment 2: (Compulsory) 18 July 2019
Assignment 3: (Compulsory) 5 September 2019
ASSIGNMENT 1
To be completed on mark reading sheet.
Choose the correct answer:

1 Step-index single-mode fibre has:

1) Low attenuation due to smaller core diameter.

2) Higher bandwidth.
3) Smaller bandwidth.
4) Very low dispersion.

2 Which of the following is not an electromagnetic wave?

1) Radio waves
2) Visible light
3) Acoustic waves
4) Infrared radiation

3 What is the function of the cladding of an optical fibre?

1) To avoid leakage of light from the fibre

2) To provide mechanical strength to the fibre
3) To provide proper light guidance inside the fibre core
4) To protect the fibre core from scratches and mechanical damage

4 The numerical aperture of a single mode fibre with a core refractive index of 1.46 and
cladding refractive index of 1.45 is:

1) 0.170
2) 0.175
3) 0.180
4) 0.185

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The cladding refractive index of a silica fibre is 1 % less than the core with a refractive index
of 1.45.

5 Calculate the cladding refractive index.

1) 1.4255
2) 1.4355
3) 1.4555
4) 1.4655

6 Determine critical angle for the fibre.

1) 1.41 rad
2) 1.43 rad
3) 1.45 rad
4) 1.47 rad

7 Determine the numerical aperture.

1) 0.2046
2) 0.2000
3) 0.1046
4) 0.1000

An optical fibre has the following data: n1 = 1.45, n2 = 1.40.

8 Determine the critical angle.

1) 77.1º
2) 76.1º
3) 75.9º
4) 74.9º

9 Determine the numerical aperture.

1) 0.276
2) 0.377
3) 0.484
4) 0.580

10 Determine the acceptance angle.

1) 24.58º
2) 22.15º
3) 20.58º
4) 18.58º

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The optical power launched into and optical fibre with a length of 10 km is 0dBm. The
optical power received at the detector is 0.25 µW.

11 Determine the power received by the detector in dBm

1) -36 dBm
2) -33 dBm
3) 36 dBm
4) 33 dBm

12 Calculate the signal attenuation through the fibre in dB.

1) 36 dB
2) 38 dB
3) -38 dB
4) -36 dB

13 Determine the total signal attenuation per kilometer (dB/km) for the fibre:
1) 2.75 dB/km
2) 4.00 dB/km
3) 3.6 dB/km
4) 5.25 dB/km

Answer the following 1) True or 2) False

14 The cladding of an optical fibre is to protect the core of the optical fibre.

15 The normalized frequency of a singlemode step index fibre is 2.405.

16 To guide light in the core of an optical fibre the refractive index of the core is more
than the cladding refractive index.

17 Pulse broadening due to chromatic dispersion results from different modes

propagating in a single mode fibre.

18 Dispersion occurs in multimode step index fibre.

19 Intermodal dispersion occurs only in single mode optical fibre.

20 An LED as an optical source is a pn-junction operated under forward bias

conditions.

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ASSIGNMENT 2

The following assignment covers work discussed in Chapters 1 to 7

Consult the prescribed textbook for the assignment.

QUESTION 1

1.1 The core refractive index and cladding refractive index of a single mode fibre is
1.4675 and 1.4622 respectively. Determine the numerical aperture of the fibre. (4)

1.2 The core refractive index of a silica fibre is 1.45 and the cladding refractive index is 1
% less than the core refractive index.
1.2.1 Calculate the cladding refractive index. (4)
1.2.2 Determine critical angle for the fibre. (4)

1.3 A graded index fibre with a parabolic index profile has a diameter of 50 µm and a
numerical aperture of 0.2. Calculate the total number of guided modes propagating in
the fibre operating at a wavelength of 1 µm. (4)

1.4 Give the name of the optical connectors shown in the figure below. (4)

(a) (b) (c)

[20]

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QUESTION 2

2.1 Describe dispersion in a multi-mode step index fibre and how it affects the operating
bandwidth of an optical fibre communication system. (6)

2.2 A multimode step index fibre has a numerical aperture of 0.3 and a core refractive
index of 1.45. The material dispersion parameter for the fibre is 250 ps nm-1 km-1.
The material dispersion dominates the total chromatic dispersion mechanism.

2.2.1 Determine the total rms pulse broadening per kilometer. (6)

2.2.2 Determine the corresponding bandwidth-length product for the fibre when a LED
source with a spectral width of 54 nm is used. (2)

2.3 The optical power launched into and optical fibre with a length of 8 km is 2dBm. The
optical power received at the detector is 0.25 µW. Determine the total signal
attenuation per kilometer (dB/km) for the fibre. (2)

2.4 A length of fibre was measured using a RF transmitter, a laser transmitter, a

photodetector and an oscilloscope. What would the delay be between the modulated
signal applied to the input and the signal received at the photodetector if the fibre is 4
km long (core refractive index is 1.45)? (2)

2.5 Calculate the Spot Size for a fiber with a numerical aperture of 0.3, a core radius of
10 m and an operational wavelength of 1.55 m. (4)

2.5.1 Determine the new spot size if another length of fiber is used with a numeric
aperture of 0.35 while the other conditions remain the same. (4)

2.6 A 50 km optical link consists of multimode step index fiber with a core refractive index of
1.5 and a relative refractive index difference of 1%. Estimate:

2.6.1 the delay difference between the slowest and fastest modes at the fiber output; (2)

2.6.2 the rms pulse broadening due to intermodal dispersion on the link; (4)
[32]

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QUESTION 3

3.1 The measured output powers from ports 3 and 4 of a multimode fused biconical
taper (FBT) coupler are 50 µW and 25 µW respectively. If the excess loss specified
for this device is 0.7 dB, calculate the amount of optical power launched into port 1
of the coupler. (4)

3.1.1 Determine the insertion loss between the input and output ports. (4)

3.2 A 16 × 16 port multimode fiber transmissive star coupler has 0dBm of optical power
launched into a single input port. The average measured optical power at each output
port is 14 μW. Calculate the total loss incurred by the star coupler and the average
insertion loss through the device. (6)
[14]

QUESTION 4

4.1 Sketch and explain the working principle of an Erbium doped ring configuration laser.
(6)

4.2 An injection laser has a GaAs active region with a bandgap energy of 1.43 eV has a
spectral width of 0.1 nm.

4.2.1 Estimate the wavelength of the optical emission from the device. (4)

4.3 Estimate the external power efficiency of a GaAs (refractive index: 3.6) planar LED
when the transmission factor of the GaAs-air interface is 0.86 and the internally
generated optical power is 30 % of the electrical power supplied. (4)

4.3.1 Calculate the coupling efficiency of coupling the emitted light into a step index
fibre with a numerical aperture 0.15 when the device is in close proximity to the fibre
and is smaller than the fibre core. (4)

4.4 Light emission from an LED is modulated by which of the following parameters: applied
voltage, drive current, illumination – explain. (4)

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4.5 A LED emits radiation at a wavelength of 1550 nm. If the LED shines on a detector for
32 seconds, during which the detector absorbs 0.52 J of energy, determine how many
photons per second are emitted by the diode. (4)

4.6 The internally generated power within an LED (refractive index: 3.46) is 10 mW at a
drive current of 70 mA. The external power efficiency of the device is 0.8 % at this
drive current and the potential difference across the device is 1.8 V.

4.6.1 Determine the peak emission wavelength from the device when the radiative and non-
radiative carrier recombination lifetimes in the active region are equal. (4)

4.6.2 Determine the transmission factor for the LED-air interface. (4)
[34]
TOTAL MARKS: 100

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ASSIGNMENT 3

The following assignment covers work discussed in Chapters 8, 9, 12 and

13.

Consult the prescribed textbook for the assignment.

QUESTION 1

1.1 A PIN photo-diode on average generates one electron-hole pair per 2 incident photons
at a wavelength of 1300 nm. Assuming all the photons are collected, calculate:
1.1.1 the quantum efficiency of the device; (2)

1.1.2 its maximum possible bandgap energy; (2)

1.1.3 the mean photocurrent when the received optical power is 10-6 W. (2)

1.2 Find the responsivity of an APD with a quantum efficiency of 70% operating at a
wavelength of 1300 nm. (4)

1.3 A p–n photodiode has a quantum efficiency of 75% at a wavelength of 0.9 μm when
the generated photocurrent is 1µA. Calculate the number of photons received at this
wavelength. (6)

1.4 A silicon p–i–n photodiode with active dimensions of 10 μm x 10 μm has a specific

detectivity of 7×1010 mHz1/2W-1 when operating at a wavelength of 0.9 μm. The
device quantum efficiency at this wavelength is 60%. Assuming that dark current is the
dominant noise source, calculate the dark current over a 1 Hz bandwidth in the device.
(6)

1.5 An Si APD has a quantum efficiency of 75 % at 850 nm without amplification. The APD
is biased to operate with a multiplication of 100. If the incident optical power is 12 nW,
calculate the photocurrent. (6)

[22]

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QUESTION 2

2.1 A PIN photodiode operating at 1300nm has a dark current of 4 nA, the efficiency is 72
% at 300 K, the load resistance is 1 kΩ, the incident optical power is 400 nW and the
receiver bandwidth is 20 MHz. Calculate the signal to noise ratio. (10)

2.2 The signal to noise ratio of a receiver with a PIN-photodiode is 45 dB. The quantum
efficiency of the detector is 60 % and the operational wavelength is 900 nm. It
operates at a temperature of 300 K, a dark current of 20 nA, a bandwidth of 20 MHz,
a noise figure Fn = 1 and the load resistance is 75 ohm.
2.2.1 Determine the photocurrent to maintain the SNR of 45 dB. (8)
2.2.2 Calculate the corresponding incident optical power. (4)

2.3 A fibre communication system consists of a laser diode, single mode fibre and a PIN-
photodiode. The operating wavelength is 1300 nm and the laser output power is 2
mW. When the PIN photodiode has 900 photons incident onto its detecting area, it
generates 600 electrons per second at the operating wavelength, which are collected.
The measured dark current is 4 nA when dark current is the dominant noise source
and the active dimensions of the device are 50x50 µm. The fibre loss is 0.8 db/km
and spliced every 4 km with a splice loss of 0.5 dB/splice. A safety margin of 5 dB is
used.
2.3.1 Assuming attenuation limited operation, determine the maximum fibre link
that will ensure adequate operation of the link. (16)
[38]

QUESTION 3

3.1 The signal to noise ratio of a pin-photodiode is given by:

A NRZ pulse modulated signal with a bit rate, BT of 150 MB/s is transmitted over a 30
km long single mode fibre link. To ensure the required bit-error-rate for the system,
the signal-to noise ratio at the receiver must be 20 dB. The receiver is a
transimpedance amplifier with an open loop gain of 200. The average amplifier noise
current is 2.2 pA/(Hz)1/2, the amplifier input resistance is 10 kohm and the feedback
resistor is 10 kohm. The photodiode has a junction capacitance of 7 pF.

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3.1.1 Calculate the minimum photocurrent for the diode to maintain the required
SNR.
(12)
3.1.2 Determine if the maximum bandwidth for the receiver and amplifier is larger
than the required bandwidth.
(6)

3.2 Consider a DWDM communication link between two sites A and B as illustrated in figure
1 and figure 2.

Figure 1: Transmitter site A

Figure 2: Receiver site B

The two sites are separated by a distance of 20 km using standard telecommunication fiber.
The attenuation coefficient of the fiber is 0.1dB/km. The total joint loss is 3 dB. Neglect the
power penalty and safety margin. The characteristics of the OTUs from each site are identical.

3.1.1 When the amplification of the OBU is 10 dB, calculate the respective power
(in dbm) at position 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the receiver site as indicated in figure 2.
(10)
3.1.2 Determine the status of the link. (Say if the link is working or not). (2)

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3.2 Perform a rise-time budget for fibre link that operates at 1550 nm with a length of
150 km and designed to operate at 750 Mbps. The LED transmitter and Si pin-
photodiode has rise-times of 0.1 ns and 0.5 ns respectively. The graded index fibre
has dispersion, D = 18 ps/km-nm. The LED spectral width is 0.25 nm. Can the
system operate with a NRZ signaling format? (10)
[40]
TOTAL MARKS: 100

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8.7 Other assessment methods

None

8.8 The examination

Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination
preparation guidelines.

9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The my Studies @ Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study
information.

10 SOURCES CONSULTED
None

11 IN CLOSING
Please ensure that you have all the tutorial letters and prescribed book available before starting
with your studies.

12 ADDENDUM
None

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