Calculated pulse responses of perturbed fiber profiles

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Optical Fiber Communications
• Wave Propagation

Background:

• Optical fibers are crucial for data transmission.
• Accurate modeling of pulse width is essential for high-speed communication.
• Refractive index profiles and mode coupling significantly impact signal integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of central index dips and profile ripples on optical fiber pulse width.
• To evaluate the applicability of the WKB method for analyzing perturbations in optical fibers.
• To investigate pulse width changes caused by strong mode coupling within fiber mode groups.

Main Methods:

• Numerical integration of the scalar wave equation.
• Comparison of numerical results with the WKB method.
• Analysis of strong mode coupling effects.

Main Results:

• Central index dips and profile ripples affect total pulse width.
• The WKB method is inadequate for rapidly varying refractive-index profile perturbations.
• Strong mode coupling leads to significant changes in pulse width within mode groups.

Conclusions:

• Numerical integration provides a more accurate analysis for perturbed fiber profiles.
• The WKB approximation has limitations in modeling complex refractive index variations.
• Understanding mode coupling is vital for predicting and controlling pulse broadening in optical fibers.