Fundamentals of Optical Fibers

Fundamentals of Optical Fibers, Second Edition offers readers a timely and consistent introduction to the fundamental principles of light propagation in fibers. In it, the author reviews, in depth, fundamental wave guiding concepts, the influence of various fiber structures and materials on light transmission, nonlinear light propagation effects occurring in fibers, and various measurement techniques. Since the chief application of optical fibers is in communication systems, throughout the book the focus is on topics, which pertain to that domain. Preface.

Introduction.

Chapter 1. Selected Topics in Electromagnetic Wave Propagation.

1.1. Maxwell’s Equations and the Fundamental Fields.

1.2. Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Sourceless Media.

1.3. Power Transmission.

1.4. Group Velocity.

1.5. Reflection and Transmission of Waves at Plane Interfaces.

1.6. Material Resonances and Their Effects on Wave Propagation.

Problems.

References.

Chapter 2. Symmetric Dielectric Slab Waveguides.

2.1. Ray Analysis of the Slab Waveguides.

2.2. Field Analysis of the Slab Waveguides.

2.3. Solutions of the Eigenvalue Equations.

2.4. Power Transmission and Confinement.

2.5. Leaky Waves.

2.6. Radiation Modes.

2.7. Wave Propagation in Curved Slab Waveguides.

Problems.

References.

Chapter 3. Weakly-Guiding Fibers with Step Index Profiles.

3.1. Rays and Fields in the Step Index Fiber.

3.2. Field Analysis of the Weakly-Guiding Fiber.

3.3. Eigenvalue Equation for LP Modes.

3.4. LP Mode Characteristics.

3.5. Single Mode Fiber Parameters.

3.6. Derivation of the General Step Index Fiber Modes.

Problems.

References.

Chapter 4. Loss Mechanisms in Silica Fiber.

4.1. Basic Loss Effects in Transmission.

4.2. Fabrication of Silica Fibers.

4.3. Intrinsic Loss.

4.4. Extrinsic Loss.

4.5. Bending Loss.

4.6. Source-to-Fiber Coupling.

Problems.

References.

Chapter 5. Dispersion.

5.1. Pulse Propagation in Media Possessing Quadratic Dispersion.

5.2. Material Dispersion.

5.3. Dispersion in Optical Fiber.

5.4. Chromatic Dispersion Compensation.

5.5. Polarization Dispersion.

5.6. System Considerations and Dispersion Measurement.

Problems.

References.

Chapter 6. Special Purpose Index Profiles.

6.1. Multimode Graded Index Fiber.

6.2. Special Index Profile Optimization.

Problems.

References.

Chapter 7. Nonlinear Effects in Fibers I: Non-Resonant Processes.

7.1. Nonlinear Optics Fundamentals.

7.2. Nonlinear Phase Modulation on Pulses.

7.3. The Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation.

7.4. Additional Non-Resonant Processes.

Problems.

References.

Chapter 8. Nonlinear Effects in Fibers II: Resonant Processes and Amplification.

8.1. Raman Scattering.

8.2. Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

8.3. Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Amplifiers.

Problems.

References.

Appendix A: Properties of Bessel Functions.

Appendix B: Notation.

Index.

JOHN A. BUCK received his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1982. He then joined the faculty of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he is now at the rank of professor. His research areas have included ultrafast switching, nonlinear optical materials characterization, and nonlinear propagation in fibers. An introduction to the operating principles of optical fiber

Substantially rewritten, Fundamentals of Optical Fibers, Second Edition offers readers a timely and consistent introduction to the fundamental principles of light propagation in fibers. Incorporating the many developments in the field since the first edition appeared in 1995, this new edition reviews, in-depth, fundamental waveguiding principles, the influence of various fiber structures and materials on light transmission, and nonlinear propagation effects. Since the main applications of optical fibers occur within communication systems, the focus throughout is on topics that pertain to that domain.

Equally useful to professionals seeking an in-depth reference and as a text for senior- and graduate-level students, the book:

• Explains relevant waveguiding concepts and the influences of fiber structures and materials on light transmission
• Explores the limitations of fiber transmission, emphasizing the problems of loss and dispersion and the fiber designs currently used to control them
• Describes and demonstrates field analysis methods applicable to single-mode and multimode fibers
• Explores the origins of fiber nonlinearities, the principal nonlinear effects in fiber transmission, and applications
• Features new or enhanced discussions of such topics as polarization dispersion, polarization-maintaining fiber, photonic crystal fiber, rare-earth-doped fiber amplifiers, Raman amplifiers, soliton propagation, and more

Examples and chapter-end problems enhance the material, making this a well-balanced presentation of the basics of light propagation in fibers that is sure to become a standard in the field.