OPE4701/101/0/2020

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2020

Opto-Electronics IV (Theory)

OPE4701

Year module

Department of Electrical and Mining

Engineering

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE ............................................................................................ 3

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 4
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 4
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 5
4.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 5
4.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 5
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 5
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 6
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 6
7 PRACTICAL WORK ..................................................................................................................... 6
8 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 6
8.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 6
8.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 6
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................... 7
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 7
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 7
8.4 Assignment due dates .................................................................................................................. 7
8.5 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 7
8.6 The assignments .......................................................................................................................... 9
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 17
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 17
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 17
10 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 17
11 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 17
12 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 17

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 OPE4701/101/0/2020

Dear Student

As part of this tutorial letter, we wish to inform you that Unisa has implemented a transformation
charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In response to this charter, we have also
placed curriculum transformation high on the agenda. For your information, curriculum
transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical
renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and
the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars and their principles will be
integrated at both the programme and module levels, as a phased-in approach. You will notice
the implementation thereof in your modules, and we encourage you to fully embrace these
changes during your studies at Unisa.

1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE

Welcome to the subject Opto-Electronics IV (Theory) (OPE4701) at UNISA. This tutorial letter
serves as a guideline to this subject. It provides you with general administrative information as
well as specific information about the subject. Read it carefully and keep it safe for future
reference. We trust that you will enjoy this course.

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose
The study of optics and electro-optics concerns the generation of electromagnetic waves, the
transmission of information through optical systems as well as the detection of the information.
In general electro-optics can be summarised as:

 the generation of electromagnetic radiation,

 the transmission of radiation through free space or interaction with other materials,

 modification of radiation by free space or by interaction with other materials,

 image formation and optical signal processing with various optical systems,

 detection of radiation.
2.2 Outcomes
The outcomes of this module are to enable the student to:
- study definitions such as acceptance angle, numerical aperture, normalised frequency, cut-off
wavelength spot size and mode field diameter,
- study and apply the concepts of modes in multimode and single mode fibres although a
detailed theoretical analysis is not necessary,
- study dispersion and pulse broadening effects,

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- study, and apply in detail the effect of total dispersion which is a combined effect of intramodal
(chromatic) dispersion and intermodal dispersion, and the effect of dispersion on the fibre
bandwidth.
- summarise different fiber manufacturing techniques, specifications and characteristics of
various fibre types, and fibre joining,
- summarise basic operation of lasers including concepts such as absorption, stimulated and
spontaneous emission, population inversion, optical feedback and lasing threshold, and
principles and characteristics of pn-junctions and semiconductor lasers,
- apply operational principles, characteristics and modulations techniques of LED’s,
- apply operational principles and characteristics (absorption, efficiency, responsivity,
wavelength cut-off) of optical detectors
-study, and apply noise sources in optical detectors and amplifier circuits as well as amplifiers
and receiver structures, system design considerations, digital systems and analogue systems,
- study and apply the principles of coherent detection systems, sensitivities and practical
considerations,
- study and apply fibre system measurements (attenuation, dispersion, refractive index,
numerical aperture, mode field and fibre diameter).

3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer(s)
Your Lecturer for Opto-Electronics IV is MF GROBLER.
You can contact him on:
Tel number: (011) 559-4081/6116
e-mail: michaelg@uj.ac.za

Contact Times: Mondays to Fridays

08h00 to 15h00

3.2 Department
Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering: electrical&mining@unisa.ac.za
3.3 University
If you need to contact the University about matters not related to the content of this
module, please consult the publication My studies @ Unisa that you received with
your study material. This brochure contains information on how to contact the
University (e.g. to whom you can write for different queries, important telephone and
fax numbers, addresses and details of the times certain facilities are open).Always
have your student number at hand when you contact the University.

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4 RESOURCES
4.1 Prescribed book(s)
Senior, J M, 3rd ed., 1992. Optical Fiber Communication Principles and Practice.
PRENTICEHALL. ISBN 0-13-635426-2.
4.2 Recommended book(s)
There are no recommended books for this module
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)
E-reserves can be downloaded from the library catalogue. More information is available at:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request

4.4 Library services and resources information

The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:

 for brief information go to: https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance

 for more detailed Library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
 for research support and services (e.g. Personal Librarians and literature
search services), go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Research-support

The Library has created numerous Library guides: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:

 request and find library material/download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
 postgraduate information services:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
 finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
 Frequently asked questions about the Library: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
 Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability

Important contact information:

 https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask - Ask a Librarian

 Lib-help@unisa.ac.za - technical problems accessing library online services
 Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za - general library related queries
 Library-fines@unisa.ac.za - for queries related to library fines and payments

5
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
The Study@Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies
This brochure has all the tips and information you need to succeed at distance learning and,
specifically, at Unisa.

6 STUDY PLAN
Use your myStudies@unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills

7 PRACTICAL WORK
The practical part of this module will be covered in the module OPEPRA4.

8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 Assessment criteria
Your final mark will be calculated by using a ratio of 20% year mark and 80% examination mark.
8.2 Assessment plan
You will find your assignments for this subject in this Tutorial Letter. Assignment 1, 2 and 3 are
compulsory and all assignments will be used in the calculation of your year mark. Please send
the completed assignments to UNISA before the closing dates stated
in this section.
Assignment 1 must be completed on a mark reading sheet.
The mark for Opto-Electronics IV (Theory) (OPE4701) is calculated as follows:
• The year mark contributes to 20%.
• The examination mark contributes to 80%
The year mark is based on all the assignment marks obtained and their contribution towards the
final year mark are as shown in the table below:

ASSIGNMENT NUMBER CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS

YEAR MARK

1 (Compulsory) 10%

2 (Compulsory) 45%

3 (Compulsory) 45%

TOTAL =100%

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8.3 Assignment numbers

8.3.1 General assignment numbers
Assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01.

8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers

Assignment 1 770056

Assignment 2 648135

Assignment 3 771438

8.4 Assignment due dates

THE DUE DATES SUBMISSION FOR THE ASSIGNMENT ARE:

Assignment 1 22 May 2020

Assignment 2 17 July 2020

Assignment 3 4 September 2020

8.5 Submission of assignments

ALL ASSIGNMENTS HAVE TO BE ATTEMPTED AND SUBMMITTED!!!!!!!
THE SUBMISSION OF AN EMPTY ASSIGNMENT COVER IS UNACCEPTABLE.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

• NO LATE ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
• KEEP A CLEAR COPY OF THE ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR OWN REFERENCE.
THIS IS IMPORTANT, AS ASSIGNMENTS DO GET LOST.
• SUBMISSIONS OF ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH “MYSTUDIES @
UNISA”.
Please note that model answers for the assignments will be dispatched to all students
within 1 week of the closing date of the assignment. This implies that you cannot submit
your assignment later than the stipulated submission date.
For detailed information and requirements as far as assignments are concerned, see the
brochure my Studies @ Unisa that you received with your study material.
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To submit an assignment via myUnisa:

• Go to myUnisa.

• Log in with your student number and password.

• Select the module.

• Click on assignments in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

• Click on the assignment number you wish to submit.

• Follow the instructions.

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8.6 The assignments

Choose the correct answer:

1. The energy of a wave travelling at a speed of 2.998x108 m/s is 1.35 eV. Determine
its wavelength.

1) 820 nm
2) 820 pm
3) 920 nm
4) 920 pm

2 The speed of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum is 2.998x108 m/s. The waves are
incident onto material with a refractive index of 1.45. Determine the critical angle for the
material.
1) 34.6 degrees
2) 37.6 degrees
3) 40.6 degrees
4) 43.6 degrees

Use the following statement to answer the questions that follow:

An optical fibre has a core refractive index of 1.48 and a cladding refractive index of 1.43.

3 Determine the critical angle at the core-cladding interface.

1) 65.51˚
2) 70.01˚
3) 75.06˚
4) 80.01˚
4 Calculate the numeral aperture of the fibre.
1) 0.174
2) 0.244
3) 0.381
4) 0.444
5. Determine the acceptance angle of the fibre.
1) 30.395 degrees
2) 27.4 degrees
3) 25.34 degrees
4) 22.395 degrees
The relative refractive index difference of step index fibre is 3% and it has an acceptance angle
of 22 degrees in air.
6 Determine the numerical aperture of the fibre:
1) 0.374
2) 0.475
3) 0.587
4) 0.677
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7 Calculate the core refractive index:
1) 1.000
2) 1.531
3) 1.633
4) 1.95
8 Calculate the cladding refractive index:
1) 1.285
2) 1.300
3) 1.485
4) 1.616
Read the following statement and answer the questions that follow: The optical power launched
into and optical fibre with a length of 7 km is 0.1 nW. The optical power received at the detector
is -25.228 dBm.
9. Determine the total signal attenuation through the fibre:
1) -14 dB
2) -16 dB
3) -20 dBm
4) 20 dB
10 Calculate the signal attenuation per kilometre for the fibre.
1) 0.5 dB/km
2) 1.0 dB/km
3) 1.5 dB/km
4) 2.0 dB/km

Answer the following 1) True or 2) False

11 The spot size indicates the magnitude of the evanescent wave propagating in the
cladding of the fibre.

To increase the modulated bit rate of an optical system without changing the fibre length or the
refractive index of the fibre, the following changes can be made:

Use a LED as a source.

13 Use a graded index multimode mode fibre.

14 Use a source frequency of 1350 nm.

15 Use an avalanche photodetector.

16 Optical fibre does not offer good protection against electromagnetic interference.

17 The speed of an electromagnetic wave in the core of an optical fibre is the same as in
air.

17 When light meets a boundary separating materials of different refractive indices, it is

diffracted.

18 Fibre information repeater lengths are longer than that of copper cable.

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19 Diffraction is a general term for phenomena that causes light to spread as it travels
through a fibre.

20 Light propagates through fibre by total internal reflection.

ASSIGNMENT 2

The following assignment covers work discussed in Chapters 1 to 7

Consult the prescribed textbook for the assignment.

QUESTION 1
1.1 The core refractive index and cladding refractive index of a single mode fibre is 1.45 and
1.46 respectively. Determine the numerical aperture of the fibre. (4)
1.2 The core refractive index of a silica fibre is 1.445 and the cladding refractive index is 1 %
less than the core refractive index.
1.2.1 Calculate the cladding refractive index. (4)
1.2.2 Determine the critical angle for the fibre. (4)

1.3 If the core diameter of an optical fibre is reduced explain what happens to the
performance of the fibre. (2)

1.4 A step index fibre has a numerical aperture of 0.16, a core refractive index of 1.45, a core
diameter of 60 µm and the operating wavelength is 900 nm. Calculate the normalized
frequency and the number of modes propagating in the fibre. (4)
1.4.1 Find the radius of the fibre for single mode operation. (2)

1.5 A graded index fibre with a parabolic profile supports the propagation of 714 guided
modes. It has a core diameter of 80 µm and a numerical aperture of 0.3. Calculate the
operating wavelength. (4)

1.6 Give the name of the optical connectors shown in the figure below. (6)

(a) (b) (c)

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 [30]

QUESTION 2

2.1 Describe dispersion in a multi-mode step index fibre and how it affects the operating
bandwidth of an optical fibre communication system. (6)

2.2 The numerical aperture of a multimode step index fibre is 0.25 and the core refractive
index is 1.43. The material dispersion parameter for the fibre is 250 ps nm-1 km-1. The
material dispersion dominates the total chromatic dispersion mechanism.
2.2.1 Determine the total rms pulse broadening per kilometer when a LED source with a
spectral width of 80 nm is used. (7)
2.2.2 Determine the corresponding bandwidth-length product for the fibre. (2)

2.3 A length of fibre was measured using an RF modulator, a laser transmitter, a

photodetector, and an oscilloscope. What would the delay be between the modulated
signal applied to the input and the signal received at the photodetector if the fibre is 10
km long (core refractive index is 1.43)? (2)

2.4 Calculate the mode field diameter for a fiber with a numerical aperture of 0.3, a core
radius of 4.2 m and an operational wavelength of 1480 m. (4)
2.4.1 Determine the new spot size if another length of fiber is used with a numerical
aperture of 0.35 while the other conditions remain the same. (4)

2.5 A 70 km optical link consists of multimode step index fiber with a core refractive index of
1.43 and a relative refractive index difference of 1%. Estimate:
2.5.1 the delay difference between the slowest and fastest modes at the fiber output; (2)
2.5.2 the rms pulse broadening due to intermodal dispersion on the link; (4)

[31]

QUESTION 3

3.1 The measured output powers from ports 3 and 4 of a multimode fused biconical taper
(FBT) coupler are 1 mW and 0.5 mW respectively. If the excess loss specified for this
device is 0.7 dB, calculate the amount of optical power launched into port 1 of the
coupler. (4)
3.1.1 Determine the insertion loss between the input and output ports. (4)

3.2 A 8×8 port multimode fiber, transmissive star coupler has 3 dBm of optical power
launched into a single input port. The average measured optical power at each output
port is 14 μW. Calculate the total loss incurred by the star coupler and the average
insertion loss through the device. (6)
[14]

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QUESTION 4

4.1 When the output of a GaAs laser diode (refractive index of GaAs = 3.6) is investigated
with an optical spectrum analyser the resulting spectrum yields the following information:
centre wavelength = 1300 nm, longitudinal mode separation = 300 GHz.
4.1.1 Determine the length of the laser’s optical cavity and the number of longitudinal modes
that it generates. (4)

4.2 A GaAs DH injection laser (refractive index: 3.6) has an optical cavity of length 100 µm
and width 20 µm. At normal operating temperature (300 K) the loss coefficient is 10 cm-
1, the mirror reflectivity at each end of the optical cavity is 0.4 and the gain factor for the
device is 3.75x10-3 cm/A. The device emits at a wavelength of 1500 nm.
4.2.1 Determine the current threshold for the device. (6)

4.3 When a LED has 2 V applied to its terminals, it draws 100 mA and produces 2 mW of
optical power. What is the LED’s conversion efficiency from electrical to optical power?
(2)

4.4 List three characteristics of laser light that differentiate it from LED light. (3)

4.5 An LED emits radiation at a wavelength of 1480 nm. If the LED shines on a detector for
30 seconds, during which the detector absorbs 0.52 J of energy, determine how many
photons per second are emitted by the diode. (4)

4.6 The internally generated power within an LED (refractive index: 3.46) is 5 mW at a
drive current of 70 mA. The external power efficiency of the device is 0.5 % at this
drive current and the potential difference across the device is 1.8 V.
4.6.1 Determine the peak emission wavelength from the device when the radiative and non-
radiative carrier recombination lifetimes in the active region are equal. (4)
4.6.2 Determine the transmission factor for the LED-air interface. (4)
[27]
TOTAL MARKS: 102

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ASSIGNMENT 3

The following assignment covers work discussed in Chapters 8, 9, 12 and 13.

Consult the prescribed textbook for the assignment.

QUESTION 1
1.1 A p–n photodiode has a quantum efficiency of 65% at a wavelength of 0.9 μm when
the generated photocurrent is 1µA. Calculate the number of photons received at this
wavelength. (6)

1.2 A silicon p–i–n photodiode with active dimensions of 10 μm x 10 μm has a specific

detectivity of 7×1010 mHz1/2W-1 when operating at a wavelength of 1300 nm. The
device quantum efficiency at this wavelength is 60%. Assuming that dark current is the
dominant noise source, calculate the dark current over a 1 Hz bandwidth in the device.
(6)

1.3 An Si APD has a quantum efficiency of 75 % at 850 nm without amplification. The APD
is biased to operate with a multiplication of 100. If the incident optical power is 100 nW,
calculate the photocurrent. (6)

1.4 A PIN photo-diode on average generates two electron-hole pair per 6 incident photons
at a wavelength of 1400 nm. Assuming all the photons are collected, calculate:
1.4.1 the quantum efficiency of the device; (2)
1.4.2 its maximum possible bandgap energy; (2)
1.4.3 the mean photocurrent when the received optical power is 10-6 W. (2)

1.5 Find the responsivity of an APD with a quantum efficiency of 70% operating at a
wavelength of 1300 nm. (4)

1.6 A p–n photodiode has a quantum efficiency of 75% at a wavelength of 0.9 μm when
the generated photocurrent is 1µA. Calculate the number of photons received at this
wavelength. (6)

1.7 A silicon p–i–n photodiode with active dimensions of 10 μm x 10 μm has a specific

detectivity of 7×1010 mHz1/2W-1 when operating at a wavelength of 0.9 μm. The
device quantum efficiency at this wavelength is 60%. Assuming that dark current is the
dominant noise source, calculate the dark current over a 1 Hz bandwidth in the device.
(6)
[40]

QUESTION 2

2.1 A PIN photodiode operating at 1480nm has a dark current of 4 nA, the efficiency is 72
% at 300 K, the load resistance is 1 kΩ, the incident optical power is 500 nW and the
receiver bandwidth is 20 MHz. Calculate the signal to noise ratio. (10)

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2.2 A voltage amplifier for an optical fibre receiver is designed with an effective input
resistance of 200 ohm which is matched to the detector bias resistor of the same value.
Evaluate:
2.1.1 The maximum bandwidth that may be obtained without equalisation if the total
capacitance is 10 pF. (2)
2.2.2 The rms thermal noise generated in this configuration when it is operating over the
calculated bandwidth at an operating temperature of 300K. (2)
2.2.3 The voltage amplifier is replaced with a transimpedance amplifier with a 10 kohm
feedback resistor and an open loop gain of 50. The feedback resistor is also used to
bias the detector and the total capacitance remains 10 pf. Calculate the rms thermal
noise for this configuration. (6)
[20]

QUESTION 3

3.1 A single-mode optical fiber system is designed for operation at a wavelength of 1.5
μm and a transmission rate of 500 Mbit/s over a distance of 50 km without repeaters.
The single-mode injection laser is capable of launching a mean optical power of −3
dBm into the fiber cable which exhibits a loss of 0.25 dB/km. In addition, average
splice losses are 0.1 dB at 1 km intervals. The connector loss at the transmitter and
receiver is 0.5 dB each, and the receiver sensitivity is −30 dBm. Finally, an extinction
ratio penalty of 1 dB is predicted for the system. Perform an optical power budget for
the system and determine the safety margin. (6)

3.2 The signal to noise ratio of a pin-photodiode receiver is given by:

An NRZ pulse modulated signal with a bit rate, BT of 250 MB/s is transmitted over a
30 km long single-mode fibre link. To ensure the required bit-error-rate for the
system, the signal-to-noise ratio at the receiver must be 20 dB. The receiver is a
transimpedance amplifier with an open loop gain of 200. The average amplifier noise
current is 2.2 pA/(Hz)1/2, the amplifier input resistance is 10 kohm and the feedback
resistor is 10 kohm. The photodiode has a junction capacitance of 7 pF.

3.2.1 Calculate the minimum photocurrent for the diode to maintain the required SNR. (10)

3.3 The 10 % to 90 % rise times for possible components to be used in a direct detection
intensity modulated analog system are as follows:

Source (LED): 10 ns
Fibre cable: intermodal: 9 ns/km
Intramodal: 2 ns/km
Detector (APD): 3 ns

The desired link length without repeaters is 5 km and the required optical bandwidth is 6
MHz. Determine whether the above combination of components give an adequate
temperal response (rise time budget). (4)

3.4 Consider a DWDM communication link between two sites A and B as illustrated in figure
1 and figure 2.
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 Figure 1: Transmitter site A

Figure 2: Receiver site B

The two sites are separated by a distance of 30 km using standard telecommunication fiber.
The attenuation coefficient of the fiber is 0.1dB/km. The total joint loss is 3 dB. Neglect the
power penalty and safety margin. The characteristics of the OTUs from each site are identical.

3.4.1 When the amplification of the OBU is 10 dB and the amplification of OBA is 10 dB,
calculate the respective power (in dbm) at position 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the receiver site as
indicated in figure 2. (10)

3.5 Perform a rise-time budget for fibre link that operates at 1550 nm with a length of 200
km and designed to operate at 750 Mbps. The LED transmitter and Si pin-photodiode
has rise-times of 0.1 ns and 0.5 ns respectively. The graded index fibre has
dispersion, D = 18 ps/km-nm. The LED spectral width is 0.3 nm. Can the system
operate with an NRZ signaling format? (10)

[40]
TOTAL MARKS: 100

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8.7 Other assessment methods

None
8.8 The examination
Use your myStudies @ Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination
preparation guidelines.

9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The myStudies @ Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study information.

10 SOURCES CONSULTED
None

11 IN CLOSING
Please ensure that you have all the tutorial letters and prescribed book available before starting
with your studies.

12 ADDENDUM
None

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