THE FIBER FORUM

Fiber Optic Communications

JOSEPH C. PALAIS
PRESENTED BY
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 2
Section 3.2
Dispersion, Pulse Distortion,
Information Rate
When we write E = E
o
sin (et kz), we imply a
single frequency source.
Frequency
t
e
2
= f
Radio oscillators approximate this pretty well.
Optical sources do not produce single frequencies.
Normalized
Power
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 3
SPECTRUM OF AN OPTICAL
SOURCE
1
.5
Example Emission Spectrum of an Optical Source
Af
Frequency
Af = source bandwidth (range of frequencies
emitted by the source).
Normalized
Power
f
f
1
f
2

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 4
SPECTRUM OF AN OPTICAL
SOURCE
1
.5
Alternatively, we can plot the wavelength
emission spectrum as follows:
A
Wavelength
Normalized
Power
A = linewidth or spectral width

1

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 5
SPECTRUM OF AN OPTICAL
SOURCE
Example: If = 0.82 m, A = 30 nm
, 037 . 0
820
30
= =
A

so we have 3.7% bandwidth.

The conversion between wavelength and
frequency is:

A
=
A
f
f
(3.9)
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 6
SPECTRUM OF AN OPTICAL
SOURCE
1 2
2 1
2 1 1 2
1 2
c c
f f f c
f c

A
A
A
| |

= = =
|
\ .
| |
=
|
\ .
Proof:
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 7
SPECTRUM OF AN OPTICAL
SOURCE
|
.
|

\
|
A
= A
=
2
2 1

c f
The mean frequency is:
f = c/
Define the mean wavelength as:
Then
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 8
SPECTRUM OF AN OPTICAL
SOURCE
f
f
f
f

A
A
A A
=
=
Thus, completing the proof of (3.9).
Now, we have
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 9
SPECTRUM OF AN OPTICAL
SOURCE
Spectral Widths for Typical Light Sources

Source Spectral Width A (nm)
LED 20-100
Laser Diode 1-5
Nd:YAG-Laser 0.1
HeNe Laser 0.002

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 10
SPECTRUM OF AN OPTICAL
SOURCE
If A = 0, (Af = 0), the source is perfectly
coherent. It is monochromatic. Laser
diodes are more coherent than LEDs, but
are not perfectly coherent. We will see
how source bandwidth limits the
information capacity of fiber transmission
lines.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 11
3.2.1 Material Dispersion and Pulse Distortion
Recall that v = c/n.
For glass, n varies with wavelength. Thus, waves
of different wavelengths (frequencies) travel at
different speeds.
Dispersion:
Wavelength dependent propagation
velocity.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 12
Material Dispersion and Pulse Distortion
Material Dispersion: Dispersion caused by the
material.
Waveguide Dispersion: Dispersion caused by
the structure of the waveguide.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 13
Material Dispersion and Pulse Distortion
Consider a pulse of light emitted by a source
which contains a range of wavelengths (say
1
,

2
,
3
) as illustrated on the next slide.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 14
Material Dispersion and Pulse Distortion
Input Power
Output Power
t
t
t
t
t
t
t

1
t
T

3
T + At
Fastest
wavelength
Slowest
wavelength
Arrives
last
Arrives
first
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 15
Material Dispersion and Pulse Distortion
Because of dispersion, the components of the input
pulse at
1
,
2
, and
3
travel at different speeds and
thus arrive at the receiver at different times. The
previous slide displayed how this phenomenon
spreads pulses as they travel along a dispersive
medium. The output is widened by an amount we
label as At.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 16
Material Dispersion and Pulse Distortion
We conclude the following:
The longer the path the greater the pulse
spread.
The greater the source spectral width, the
greater the pulse spread.

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 17
Material Dispersion and Pulse Distortion
Dispersion also distorts an analog signal
waveform, as illustrated on the next slide.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 18
Material Dispersion and Pulse Distortion
Input Power Output Power
P
ac,in

P
ac,out

2
Slower
wavelength

2
P
ac,out
< P
ac,in

Information is contained in the amplitude variation.

t
t
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 19
SOLITON
A soliton is a pulse that travel without spreading.
The refractive index of glass depends upon the
pulse intensity. This fiber nonlinearity is used to
counter the effects of dispersion. The leading edge
of the pulse can be slowed down, and the trailing
edge speeded up, to reduce spreading. Thus, the
pulse must be properly shaped.
3.2.2 Solitons
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 20
The nonlinearity is such that solitons are only
produced at wavelengths longer than the zero-
dispersion wavelength in glass fibers.
Compensation to overcome pulse broadening is
only possible in the longer wavelength region
range 1300 to 1600 nm.
Solitons
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 21
Solitons overcome the bandwidth limitations of the
fiber, but not the attenuation. Optical amplifiers are
needed along the transmission path to maintain the
pulse energy above the minimum required for
soliton production.
Solitons
Fiber
Amplifier
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 22
3.2.3 Information Rate
Consider sinusoidal modulation of the light source
with modulation frequency f. The transmitted
optical power can be written as:
P
T
= 2[1+cos(2tft)] (1)
Modulation period = T
Then
T = 1/f

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 23
Information Rate
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
time
O
p
t
i
c

P
o
w
e
r

T
r
a
s
m
i
t
t
e
d
Sinusiodal Modulation Of The Light Source
P
T

P
avg

T
MODULATED OPTICAL WAVE
Time
P
o
w
e
r

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 24
Information Rate
The limit on the allowable pulse spread will be
taken to be:
2
T
s At
If the spread just equals half the modulation
period, we have the situation shown on the next
slide for the power P
R
at the receiver:
(2)
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 25
Information Rate
c
o
n
s
d
e
r
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
Maximum Allowable Pulse Spead At The Receiver
time
O
p
t
i
c

P
o
w
e
r

R
e
c
e
i
v
e
r
P
R

T
T/2
This spread puts peaks over nulls and reduces
the total power variation to zero. Then P
R
= 2.
Blue:
1
Red:
2
Time
P
o
w
e
r

T/2 At
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 26
2
] 2 cos( 1 [ )] 2 cos( 1 [
) cos( ) cos(
2
2
2
)] ( 2 cos( 1 [ )] 2 cos( 1 [
=
+ + =
= + = = A
A + + + + =
R
R
R
P
ft ft P
so
x x and
T
T
f
t f ft P
t t
t t
t
t t
t t t
Information Rate
Analytically, we find:
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 27
Information Rate
so that the modulation frequency has the limits:
t
t
A
=
A
s
2
1
2
1
max
f
f
The maximum modulation frequency is then:
(4)
From (2) we have the requirement that
1/T < 1/(2At) (3)
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 28
Information Rate
This modulation frequency turns out to be the 3-
dB bandwidth. The signal is actually reduced by
half (3-dB) at this modulation frequency. Thus, we
can write:
t A
=

2
1
3 dB
f (5)
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 29
Information Rate
The total signal loss has two parts and can be
expressed by the equation:
f a
L L Loss + = (6)
L
a
= Loss due to absorption and
scattering. This is the fixed loss.
L
f
= Modulation (message) frequency
dependent loss.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 30
Information Rate
2
3
2 ln
log 10
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
dB
f
f
f
e L
The modulation frequency dependent loss is
given by:
(7)
dB e
e L
dB
dB
f
f
f
3
2
1
log 10 log 10
log 10
2 ln
2 ln
2
3
3
= = =
=

|
|
.
|

\
|

Example: Suppose f = f
3-dB
.

Compute the loss.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 31
Information Rate
( )
0 1 log 10 log 10
log 10
0
0
0 2 ln
3
2
= = ~
~

e
e L
f
f
f
dB
Example: Suppose f << f
3-dB
.

Compute the loss.
As expected, the equation predicts no modulation
frequency loss for modulation frequencies well
below the 3-dB frequency.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 32
Information Rate
Example: Suppose f = 0.1 f
3-dB
.

Compute the loss.
( )
dB e L
f
03 . 0 log 10
2
1 . 0 2 ln
= =

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 33
Information Rate
The maximum frequency length product is
calculated from (5) as follows:
3
2
dB
L
f L
t A

=
(8)
Optical 3-dB Bandwidth Length Product
(3.16)
3
1 0.5
2
dB
f
t t A A

= =
(5)
3
1
2
dB
f L
L
t
A

=
| |
|
\ .
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 34
Information Rate
Find the frequency at which L
f
= 1.5 dB.
Use (7) for L
f

2
3
ln 2
1.5 10log
dB
f
f
e

(

(

=
2
3
ln 2
10log
dB
f
f
f
L e

| |

|
\ .
=
(7)
1.5 3
0.71
dB dB
f f

Solving for the frequency at which the loss is 1.5
dB, we obtain
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 35
Information Rate
Now consider the photodetection circuit:
R
L

P
Photodetector
Optical
Power
i
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 36
Information Rate
From the preceding slide:
P = incident optic power
i = P detector output current
= detector responsivity (A/w)
The electrical power in the load resistor R
L
is:
2 2 2
2
) ( P R P R P
i R P
L L e
L e
= =
=
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 37
Information Rate
Consider two optical power levels P
1
and P
2
and
their corresponding electrical power levels P
e1

and P
e2
.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 38
Information Rate
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
log 20
log 10
) (
) (
log 10
log 10
log 10
log 10
log 10
log 10
P
P
P
P
P R
P R
P
P
dB
dB
P
P
P
P
dB
dB
P
P
dB
P
P
dB
L
L
electrical
optical
e
e
electrical
optical
e
e
electrical
optical
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
=
=

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 39

Information Rate
1
2
2
optical
electrical
electrical optical
dB
dB
dB dB
=
=
The result is:
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 40
Information Rate
Examples:
A loss of 3 dB in optical power yields a loss of 6
dB in the corresponding electrical power.
A loss of 1.5 dB in optical power yields a loss of 3
dB in the corresponding electrical power.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 41
Information Rate
Thus, the electrical 3-dB bandwidth occurs when
the optical loss is 1.5 dB.
We found that the modulation frequency at which
the optical loss is 1.5 dB was:
1.5 3
3 ( )
0.71
0.71 0.35
2
dB dB
dB electrical
f f
f
t t A A

Joseph C. Palais 3.2 42

Information Rate
3 ( )
0.35
dB electrical
f L
L
t
A

=
| |
|
\ .
Thus, the electrical 3-dB bandwidth length
product is:
(3.19)
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 43
t
Information Rate
t
p

Consider a Return-to-Zero (RZ) digital signal.
Power
1 1 1 0 1
0 T 2T 3T 4T 5T 6T 7T
t
p
= T/2 pulse width
R = 1/T data rate, b/s
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 44
Information Rate
Spectrum of the RZ Signal
Frequency
p
t T T
1 2 1
=
Power
Spectral
Density
(Watts/Hz)
The required transmission bandwidth is:
R
T
B
RZ
= ~
1
0
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 45
If the system passes this band of frequencies the
pulses will be recognizable. To be conservative,
use the 3-dB electrical bandwidth.
Information Rate
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 46
From equation (3.19):
t
t
A
= = = =
A
=

35 . 0 1
35 . 0
) (
3
) ( 3
electrical
dB RZ
electrical dB
f R
T
R
f
Information Rate
(3.20)
0.35
RZ
R L
L
t
A
=
| |
|
\ .
The RZ rate length product is then:
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 47
Information Rate
We obtain the same result by allowing a pulse
spread of 70% of the initial pulse duration.
t
t
A
= =
=
|
.
|

\
|
= A
=
35 . 0 1
35 . 0
2
7 . 0
2
T
R
T
T
then
T
t
p
As on the preceding slide.
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 48
Information Rate
t
t
p

1 1 1 0 1
T 2T 3T 4T 5T 6T 7T
Consider the Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) digital
signal.
Power
0
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 49
Spectrum of the (NRZ) Signal:
Frequency
p
t T T
1 1
2
1
=
Power
Spectral
Density
(Watts/Hz)
The required transmission bandwidth is:
2 2
1 R
T
B
NRZ
= ~
Information Rate
0
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 50
Information Rate
The allowed data rate is then:
dB NRZ
f B
T
R

= = =
3
2 2
1
t t
t
A
=
A
=
A
=

7 . 0 ) 35 . 0 ( 2
35 . 0
3
NRZ
dB
R
then
f
Use the electrical 3-dB bandwidth:
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 51
Information Rate
0.7
NRZ
R L
L
t
A
=
| |
|
\ .
2
NRZ RZ
R L R L =
The NRZ rate length product is then:
(3.21)
Comparing the results for the RZ and NRZ data
rates, we see that:
Joseph C. Palais 3.2 52
BANDWIDTH DATA RATE SUMMARY
3 ( )
3 ( )
0.7
0.35
0.5
NRZ
dB electrical RZ
dB optical
R L
L
f L R L
L
f L
L
t
t
t
A
A
A

=
| |
|
\ .
= =
| |
|
\ .
=
| |
|
\ .