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Bending Loss Experiment in Optical Fiber

The document describes an experiment to determine attenuation and bending loss in optical fibers. It defines attenuation as the reduction in signal power as it travels through the fiber. Attenuation is measured in decibels per kilometer and is influenced by absorption, scattering, and bending loss. Bending loss occurs when fibers are bent beyond their minimum bend radius, causing light to escape the cladding or scattering within the fiber. The experiment involves measuring the input and output power of light through a fiber as it is bent to calculate attenuation and determine bending loss.

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1K views3 pages

Bending Loss Experiment in Optical Fiber

The document describes an experiment to determine attenuation and bending loss in optical fibers. It defines attenuation as the reduction in signal power as it travels through the fiber. Attenuation is measured in decibels per kilometer and is influenced by absorption, scattering, and bending loss. Bending loss occurs when fibers are bent beyond their minimum bend radius, causing light to escape the cladding or scattering within the fiber. The experiment involves measuring the input and output power of light through a fiber as it is bent to calculate attenuation and determine bending loss.

Uploaded by

3176RACHANA CHOUGULE
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune

(Autonomous institute affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University)

Experiment no. 2

Aim: To determine attenuation and bending loss of optical fiber.

Apparatus & their specifications:

LED module, fiber optic cable, Optical Power Meter.

Theory:
Attenuation: Attenuation in optical fiber communication refers to the reduction of the power of the optical
signal as it travels along the length of the fiber. Attenuation is caused by various factors, such as
absorption, scattering, and bending loss, which all contribute to the reduction of the signal strength.

In optical fiber communication systems, attenuation is a critical parameter that affects the transmission
distance and signal quality. The amount of attenuation in the fiber determines the maximum distance the
signal can travel without being too weak to be detected at the receiver end.

Attenuation is typically measured in decibels per kilometer (dB/km), which is a logarithmic unit that
expresses the ratio of the input signal power to the output signal power. For example, if the output power
is one-tenth of the input power, the attenuation is 10 dB. Formula for calculating Attenuation is,

𝑃𝑖
∝ = 10 log10
𝑃𝑜

Where, Pi is Input optical power and Po will be the output optical power in dB.

The attenuation in optical fiber communication can be minimized by using high-quality fibers and
connectors, optimizing the system design, and choosing the appropriate transmission wavelength.
Additionally, optical amplifiers can be used to amplify the signal periodically along the length of the fiber,
compensating for the attenuation and allowing the signal to travel longer distances.

Bending Losses:

Bending loss in optical fiber refers to the loss of optical power caused by bending the fiber beyond its
minimum bend radius. When a fiber is bent, the light propagating through it may escape through the
cladding due to the change in the propagation direction caused by the bend. This leads to additional
attenuation of the signal and can limit the transmission distance and signal quality in optical fiber
communication systems.

Bending loss is influenced by several factors, including the wavelength of the light, the bending radius,
the fiber core diameter, and the refractive index of the fiber materials. A smaller bending radius, shorter
wavelength, larger core diameter, and higher refractive index all lead to higher bending losses.

The minimum bending radius of an optical fiber is the smallest radius at which the fiber can be bent
without suffering significant attenuation. The minimum bending radius is usually specified by the fiber
manufacturer and is typically in the range of a few centimeters to a few millimeters, depending on the
fiber type and application.

There are two main types of bending losses in optical fiber: Macrobending losses and Microbending
losses.

Macrobending losses: These losses occur when the fiber is bent over a relatively large radius of curvature,
typically on the order of a few centimeters or more. Macrobending losses are caused by the loss of light
due to the difference in propagation paths between the inside and outside of the bend. The bend causes
the light rays to refract and move away from the fiber core, resulting in loss of power. Macrobending
losses are typically more significant at longer wavelengths, and are a major concern in long-haul fiber
optic communication systems.

Microbending losses: These losses occur when the fiber is subjected to small, periodic perturbations in its
geometry, typically on the order of a few microns or less. Microbending losses are caused by the
interaction of the light with the deformations in the fiber, which scatter the light out of the fiber core.
Microbending losses are typically more significant at shorter wavelengths and are a concern in
applications where the fiber is subjected to mechanical stress or vibration, such as in industrial or military
applications.

Figure 1: Bending losses inside the optical fiber

2
Procedure:

1. Switch on LED Module.


2. Keep the pot meter in a position where the LED will be on using DMM.
3. Connect the fiber optic cable to the LED module and Optical Power meter.
4. Note down the reading in the observation table.

Observations:

Sr. No. No. of turns Power (in dB) Power (Watt)

Calculations:

𝑃𝑖
Attenuation: ∝ = 10 log10 𝑃𝑜

Where, Pi is Input optical power and Po will be the output optical power.

Attenuation in dB: Pi - Po

Conclusion:

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