ENGINEERING SOCIETY

FOURAH BAY COLLEGE, MOUNT AUREOL

Email: fbcengineeringsociety@gmail.com
Tel: +23279213684 / +23299238751 / +23276169776

OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS EENG425

OCTOBER 2020 SOLUTIONS

QUESTION 1
(a) Differences between step-index fibber and Graded-index fibber

Step-index Fibber Graded-index Fibber

In a step-index fiber, the refractive In graded-index fibers, the

index of the core is uniform and refractive index of the core varies
undergoes an abrupt change at the gradually as a function of radial
core-cladding boundary. distance from the fiber centre.
In this fiber data rate is very slow. Graded index fiber data rate is
very high.
The bandwidth is low. The bandwidth is high.
Attenuation is too much more.  Attenuation is less.

(b) Advantages and Disadvantages of multimode step index fiber

Advantages
 Multimode cables are less expensive to operate, install, and
maintain
 High speed and high bandwidth over short distances
 Allow several mode optical signals to be transmitted at once

Disadvantages
 Multimode cables are more limited in both speed and distance
 Modal dispersion is more.

(c) Difference between a multimode graded-index fiber and step-index fibers

in relation to refractive index and the radial distance.

{OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT} 1

 ENGINEERING SOCIETY
FOURAH BAY COLLEGE, MOUNT AUREOL
Email: fbcengineeringsociety@gmail.com
Tel: +23279213684 / +23299238751 / +23276169776

In multimode graded-index fiber, the refractive index of the fiber varies

according to the radial distance.
Whereas, in step-index fiber, the refractive index of the core is constant
or uniform.

(d) types of Single Mode step-index fibers

The types are: Matched cladding and depressed cladding.

 Matched Cladding

Matched cladding means that the fiber cladding consists of a single

homogeneous layer of dielectric material.

 Depressed Cladding
Depressed cladding means that the fiber cladding consists of two
regions: the inner and outer cladding regions.

(e) difference between absorption and scattering in relation to fiber optic

Absorption
Absorption is defined as the portion of attenuation resulting from the
conversion of optical power into another energy form, such. Whereas,

Scattering
Scattering losses are caused by the interaction of light with density
fluctuations within a fiber.

QUESTION 2

(a) The types of dispersion in optical fiber

There are two types of dispersion in optical fiber. They are:

 Intra modal Dispersion

Intra modal dispersion occurs because different colours of light
travel through different materials and different waveguide
structures at different speeds.

{OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT} 2

 ENGINEERING SOCIETY
FOURAH BAY COLLEGE, MOUNT AUREOL
Email: fbcengineeringsociety@gmail.com
Tel: +23279213684 / +23299238751 / +23276169776

 Intermodal or modal Dispersion

Modal dispersion occurs because each mode travels a different
distance over the same time span,

(b) Intra modal dispersion occurs in all types of optical fiber whereas, Modal
dispersion only occurs in multimode fiber.

(c) Coupling
A fiber optic coupler is an optical device capable of connecting one or
more fiber ends in order to allow the transmission of light waves in
multiple paths.

(d) Reasons for fiber optic coupling

(e) Actions to be performed prior to splicing.

 Arc checks
 Precision cleaver.

QUESTION 3

(a) two types of rays that can propagate along an optical fiber
 Meridional rays
 Skew rays

(b) Refer to Question 1b.

(c) NA = Numerical Aperture = ?

(d) NA = Numerical Aperture

The numerical aperture (NA) is a measurement of the ability of an optical

Fiber to capture light.

(e) Disadvantages of optical fiber

 Difficult to Splice
 Expensive to Install
 Can’t Be Curved

{OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT} 3

 ENGINEERING SOCIETY
FOURAH BAY COLLEGE, MOUNT AUREOL
Email: fbcengineeringsociety@gmail.com
Tel: +23279213684 / +23299238751 / +23276169776


(f) Fiber optic operates on the principle of total internal reflection. It occurs
when the angle of refraction is equal to 90 degrees.

QUESTION 4

(a) Wave front

Wave fronts are the plane waves having the same phase.

(b) Wavelength = ?

(c) Types of LEDs

 Surface emission LEDs

 Edge emission LEDs
 Super luminescent LEDs

Types of Lasers

 Semiconductor laser
 Solid state laser
 Liquid laser
 Gas laser

(d) Distance = ?

(e) difference between attenuation and dispersion

Attenuation
Attenuation is the loss of optical power as light travels along the fiber.

Dispersion
Dispersion spreads the optical pulse as it travels along the fiber.

QUESTION 5

{OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT} 4

 ENGINEERING SOCIETY
FOURAH BAY COLLEGE, MOUNT AUREOL
Email: fbcengineeringsociety@gmail.com
Tel: +23279213684 / +23299238751 / +23276169776

(a) proof
(b) relationship
(c) proof
(d) minimum power

QUESTION 6

(a) causes of micro bend in fiber cable

From pressure exerted on the fiber itself as when it is cabled and the other
elements in the cable press on it.

(b) Yes, Micro bend increases attenuation.

(c) When macro bend loss occurs in fiber cable?

Macro bend loss occurs in fiber cable when fibers are bend too sharply
during installation.

(d) Computation (done)

(e) Done

(f) Refer to 1(a)

(g) Factors that determine the number modes in step-index fiber

 Normalized frequency
 Numerical Aperture

{OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT} 5