Visualising Optical Fibre Modes of a Step Index Fibre

Audrey Elisa Lobo

Abstract:

An increasing demand for greater data transmission has led to a proliferation of optical fibre systems. In such systems data is encoded into light pulses that are transmitted through optical fibres. Here we examine the modal profiles of light propagating through a step-index optical fibre. A step-index fibre is one which consists of a core and a cladding, both of which have a uniform refractive index distribution with radial position. This report investigates various techniques in visualising the energy flow and electric field distribution of the modes through such a fibre.