The propagation of light in optical fibers
The technology of using glass fibers to carry signals impressed on light beams has grown exponentially over the past decade owing to the many advantages of this transmission medium. These include small size, low weight, high bandwidth, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Applications already realized range from telephone and television subscriber loops to data acquisition for nuclear weapons tests. The authors have developed a complete theoretical model of light propagation in optical fibers which treats the total transmitted beam rather than individual modes of the system. The model allows the study of important aspects of light propagation in realistic fibers; among these are spatial and angular confinement of the transmitted light, power losses due to absorbing jackets and splices, and bandwidth restrictions that result because the individual modes propagate energy with differing group velocities. In addition, a complete modal description of the light, including all the mode shapes and their corresponding wavenumbers, can be retrieved. The model allows the treatment of fibers with arbitrary refractive index profiles, with finite core and cladding regions, and with lossy components. It also serves as a check on more approximate theoretical methods.
- Research Organization:
- University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5372361
- Journal Information:
- Int. Adv. Nondestr. Test.; (United States), Vol. 9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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