CHAPTER-1

OPTICAL FIBER

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 OPTICAL FIBER
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of high quality extruded glass
(silica) or plastic, slightly thicker than a human hair. It can function as a waveguide to
transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. Power over Fiber (PoF) optic cables can also
work to deliver an electric current for low power electric devices. Optical fibers are defined
as the glass that transmits over long distances. Optical fibers are used to measure the physical
parameters such as temperature, strain and pressure etc. optical fibers can be used to make
distributed measurements over long distances and also it is not affected by electromagnetic
interference.
Optical fibers typically include a transparent core surrounded by a transparent cladding
material with a lower index of refraction. Light is kept in the core by total internal reflection.
This causes the fiber to act as a waveguide. Fibers that support many propagation paths or
transverse modes are called multi-mode fibers (MMF), while those that only support a single
mode are called single-mode fibers (SMF). Multi-mode fibers generally have a wider core
diameter, and are used for short-distance communication links and for applications where

high power must be transmitted. Single-mode fibers are used for most communication links
longer than 1,000 meters (3,300 ft).
1.1.1 TYPES OF FIBER
There are three types of fiber optic cable commonly used:
1) Single mode
2) Multimode

Fig 1.1 Structure of an

optical

fiber

1.1.1.1

Single Mode Fiber

Single mode fiber with a relatively narrow diameter, through which only one mode will
propagate. It carries higher bandwidth than multimode fiber, but requires a light source with a
narrow spectral width. This fiber also gives you a higher transmission rate and up to 50 times
more distance than multimode, but it also costs more. Single-mode fiber has a much smaller
core than multimode. The small core and single light-wave virtually eliminate any distortion
that could result from overlapping light pulses, providing the least signal attenuation and the
highest transmission speeds of any fiber cable type.
1.1.1.2 Multi-mode Fiber:
Multi-mode fiber has a little bit bigger diameter, with a common diameters in the 50
to 100 micron range for the light carry component. It gives us high bandwidth at high speeds
over medium distances. Light waves are dispersed into numerous paths, or modes, as they
travel through the cable's core typically 850 or 1300 nm. Typical multimode fiber core
diameters are 50, 62.5, and 100 micrometers. However, in long cable runs, multiple paths of
light can cause signal distortion at the receiving end, resulting in an unclear and incomplete
data transmission so designers now call for single mode fiber in new applications using
Gigabits and beyond.
1.1.2 ADVANTAGES OF OPTICAL FIBER
Fiber optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. The amount of
information that can be transmitted per unit time of fibre over other transmission media is its
most significant advantage. With the high performance single mode cable used by telephone
industries for long distance telecommunication. An optical fibre offers low power loss. This

allows for longer transmission distances. Fibre optic cables are immune to electromagnetic
interference. It can also be run in electrically noisy environments without concern as
electrical noise will not affect fibre. In comparison to copper, a fibre optic cable has nearly
4.5 times as much capacity as the wire cable has and a cross sectional area that is 30 times
less. Fibre optic cables are much thinner and lighter than metal wires. They also occupy less
space with cables of the same information capacity. Lighter weight makes fibre easier to
install. An optical fibre has greater tensile strength than copper or steel fibres of the same
diameter. It is flexible, bends easily and resists most corrosive elements that attack copper
cable.
An optical fibre has greater tensile strength than copper or steel fibres of the same diameter.
It is flexible, bends easily and resists most corrosive elements that attack copper cable.
1.2 FIBER OPTIC SENSORS
A fiber-optic sensor system consists of a fiber-optic cable connected to a remote sensor,
or amplifier. The sensor emits, receives, and converts the light energy into an electrical
signal. Fibers have many uses in remote sensing. Depending on the application, fiber may be
used because of its small size, and no electrical power is needed at the remote location. Many
sensors can be multiplexed along the length of a fiber by using light wavelength shift for each
sensor. By sensing the time delay as light passes along the fiber through each sensor. Time
delay can be determined using a device such as an optical time-domain reflectometer and
wavelength shift can be calculated using an instrument implementing optical frequency
domain reflectometry. Fiber optic sensors are also immune to electromagnetic interference,
and do not conduct electricity so they can be used in places where there is high voltage
electricity or inflammable material such as jet fuel. Fiber optic sensors can be designed to
withstand high temperature.
1.2.1 TYPES OF OPTICAL SENSORS
There are two types of optical sensors are commonly used
1. Intrinsic sensors
2. Extrinsic sensors