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Fast single-mode characterization of optical fiber by finite-difference time-

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JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 24, NO. 8, AUGUST 2006
Fast Single-Mode Characterization of Optical Fiber
by Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method
F. Pérez-Ocón, Antonio M. Pozo, José R. Jiménez, and Enrique Hita
Abstract—Usually, although not always, manufacturers produc-
ing optical fiber state that the functioning will be single mode
in most cases without specifying the wavelengths to be worked
with. A rapid method of light simulation within the optical fibers
was developed for a single-mode characterization, which avoids
errors and problems in transmitting the signals through the fiber.
The method was validated with two optical fibers, in which the
intensity patterns are well known in theory, and a rather good
fit between the theoretic intensity curves at the endface of the
fibers was achieved. In order to characterize the monomodal
regime, the method was applied to two optical fibers with different
refractive-index profiles, using the finite-difference time-domain
(FDTD) for the body of revolution (BOR).
Index Terms—Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods,
optical-fiber cables, optical-fiber communication, optical-fiber
testing.
I. I NTRODUCTION
I NDUSTRY, in theory, designs and manufactures single-
mode optical fibers to be used in communications, but under
certain circumstances these fibers may fail to reach the single-
mode regime, sometimes due to torsions, curvatures, or other
factors, because they were designed to be illuminated by a
wavelength different from the one used and, in other times,
simply because of a design flaw. The fundamental problem is
that, regardless of the above condition, when an optical-fiber
network is installed, it is always assumed to be single mode,
and this is not always the case, given that the working regime is
almost never tested. This causes losses because of the coupling
of the modes, which would be easily avoided with a prior test
of the state of the communications.
A fiber that has been designed for a single-mode operation
at a given wavelength can behave as a multimode at a certain
moment and in a particular region, for some external reason
that upsets the modal equilibrium (torsion, bends, etc.). It is
well known that, beyond a certain fiber length, the distribution
will again become single mode, but there is a segment and
sometimes the entire fiber in which it is not. The methods of
measuring the characteristics of a single-mode optical fiber are
based on the idea that the distribution at the endface of the fiber
is single mode, and therefore, it is useful to test whether this
hypothesis is correct before measurement, especially when the
sample available is not excessively long.
Manuscript received May 19, 2005; revised March 22, 2006.
The authors are with the Departamento de Optica, Universidad de Granada,
18071 Granada, Spain (e-mail: fperez@ugr.es; ampmolin@ugr.es; jrjimene@
ugr.es; decacien@ugr.es).
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/JLT.2006.878048
0733-8724/$20.00 © 2006 IEEE
3129
The quickest and simplest method to know whether an op-
tical fiber will operate in a single mode is to calculate the V
parameter. When an optical fiber has more than one cladding, a
single V parameter is not defined, so that we cannot calculate
the fiber regime according to the number of the modes.
A single-mode optical fiber is characterized by the intensity
pattern at the endface of the fiber under the modal-equilibrium
conditions, and therefore, before the experimental measurement
of this intensity pattern, it would be necessary to determine the
theoretic pattern, depending on the refractive-index profile in
each case, and of course, to ascertain at what length the modal
equilibrium is achieved—that is, where the spatial steady state
begins.
For this calculation, we must solve Maxwell’s equations
and determine how the electromagnetic waves propagate in
the interior of the fiber. The problem is that we get coupled
partial differential equations, and therefore, the first step is
to decouple them and thereby create a partial second-order
differential equation (a wave equation) with the appropriate
boundary conditions in each case. The problem that arises
in these equations, in most real cases, is that they have no
analytical solutions, and thus, we have to use the numerical
methods.
There are some experimental and theoretical characteriza-
tions in the devices that use the optical fiber in very particular
problems such as the DFB fiber lasers [1], optical sensors
[2]–[4], and optical devices [5], [6], but a monomodal charac-
terization in the optical fiber does not exist.
The aim of this paper is to find a method to test whether or
not an optical fiber is single mode before operating with that
fiber, since, as we have seen, this mode is the most important
one. A possible solution is to calculate, in some way, the
distribution of the light intensity at the endface of the fiber,
in addition to determining whether the different modes can be
transmitted through that fiber. For this, Maxwell’s equations
must be solved within the fiber, and the way in which the elec-
tromagnetic wave is to be propagated through the fiber must be
analyzed.
In this paper, we have solved Maxwell’s equations in
the cylindrical coordinates for four optical fibers commonly
used in optical communications, using the finite-difference
time-domain (FDTD) method by a body-of-revolution (BOR)
technique combined with the fast-Fourier-transform (FFT)
algorithm, and we have calculated the pattern of the intensities
at the endface fiber in a single-mode equilibrium. In this way,
we have established the pattern that an optical fiber of these
characteristics should have in a monomodal regime.
3130 JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 24, NO. 8, AUGUST 2006

II. N UMERICAL M ETHOD

There are other methods such as the beam propagation
method (BPM), which was proved to be good, but not the best.
Also, most of the time they have been tested in the Cartesian
geometries [7]. In fact, to demonstrate the goodness of the BPM
method, it has been compared with the FDTD [8]. However, the
BPM method has a drawback: If the pulse duration approaches
the optical cycle regime (as in our case), the BMP method is
not appropriate, and therefore, it becomes necessary to use the
FDTD method [8].
The Yee algorithm provides a method of solving the
Maxwell’s equations [9], while the FDTD method offers so-
lutions for the time-dependent Maxwell equations [10]. The
algorithm does not use potentials, but rather is based on the
volumetric sampling of the near-field distribution (E and H)
in the vicinity of the structure of interest within a period of
time. Also, it centers E and H in a three-dimensional (3-D)
space, in such a way that each component of the electrical field
is surrounded by four components of the magnetic field and
vice versa, as shown in Fig. 1. With respect to time, the field
components E are evaluated in the integer time steps n, and Fig. 1. Position of the electric- and magnetic-field-vector components in a
3-D FDTD lattice in the cylindrical coordinates of the Yee space lattice.
those of H in the semiinteger ones n + 1/2 (see Fig. 1) [10].
The FDTD method is essentially a time-evolution procedure,
which simulates the real and continuous electromagnetic waves using (1)–(3). Those corresponding to the electrical field are
in a finite region of space, via a numeric data sampling analo- calculated from the Yee equations for the electrical field.
gous to the propagation in space of the computer data. The numerical algorithm of the finite differences described
In the case of the magnetic field, Maxwell’s discretized above requires the time increment ∆t to have a specific value
equations for the systems with a revolution symmetry are as with respect to the space increments of the lattice. This value is
follows [11]: necessary to avoid numerical instability—that is, so that there is
no possibility that, on solving the equations, the result increases

n+1/2
n−1/2
n without limit as time progresses. In the cylindrical coordinates,
Hρ
i,j = Hρ
i,j − (m∆t)/ (µ∆ρ(i − 1/2)) Ez
i,j this criterion is given by the expression [12]


n 
+ ((∆t)/(µ∆z)) Eφ
i,j+1 − Eφ
i,j
n
(1)
c∆t ≤ min(∆ρ, ∆z)/s (4)

n+1/2
n−1/2
Hφ
i,j = Hφ
i,j − (∆t/µ)
where c is the speed of light in the medium, s = 21/2 for
 

n   m = 0, and s = m + 1 for m ≥ 1. To avoid numerical disper-
Eρ
i,j+1 − Eρ
i,j /∆z
n
×
sion, we have considered the spatial increments λ/10 [10].


n   In this paper, we illuminated with a hard source [10] given
− Ez
− Ez

n
i+1,j i,j
/∆ρ (2) the following expression:

n+1/2
n−1/2
n
Hz
i,j = Hz
i,j + ((m∆t)/(µi∆ρ)) Eρ
i,j
n  
Ez
is = E0 exp − ((n − n0 )/(nd ))2 sin(2πf0 n∆t). (5)
− ((∆t)/(µi∆ρ))

n
n  This wave is propagated symmetrically in both directions
× (i + 1/2)Eφ
i+1,j − (i − 1/2)Eφ
i,j (3)
from the source is .
As can be seen, the pulse propagated is Gaussian with
where ∆z is the space increment in the propagation direction the Fourier spectrum symmetrical about a frequency of
of the light, ∆ρ is the space increment in the radial direction 1.935 1014 Hz. We have taken an amplitude of one, n0 = 500,
of the fiber, ∆t is the time increment, m is the mode number nd = 1 000 000, and ∆t = 2.59 10−16 s.
to be propagated, and µ is the permeability. In this paper, we As we are simulating an optical fiber, the medium has a
have taken m = 1. Similar expressions are deduced for the rest discontinuity at the endface of the fiber and at the fiber–air
of the components of the electric field. interface, and this translates as the propagation difference of
With respect to the problem of singularity in the axis that the wave. The medium surrounding the cladding is also very
this algorithm presents, the treatment of Chen et al. [11] has different from the one that the wave encounters in its propaga-
been followed. In essence, it consists of calculating the value tion in the interior of the fiber. Therefore, we need a fictitious
for the component Hz in i = 0 by Faraday’s law. The rest of medium that makes light exiting the fiber attenuate as soon as
the components of the fields at the other nodes are calculated possible to avoid the spurious reflections that could trigger the
PÉREZ-OCÓN et al.: FAST SINGLE-MODE CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTICAL FIBER BY FDTD METHOD 3131

interactions with the wave being propagated and thereby create

propagation problems.
These outer grid-boundary conditions are called absorbing-
boundary conditions (ABC), and in this paper, we used the
perfectly matched layer (PML).
Other methods use the PML in the split formulation [13], but
here, we used the PML medium in the cylindrical coordinates
in the unsplit formulation for the anisotropic media [14], in
which, by a change of the variable, the Maxwell’s equations
are transformed into the PML region in a set of equations on
a complex plane. Thus, to achieve the maximum absorption of
the waves that travel away from the computational domain, we
made the following transformation [15]:
Fig. 2. Optical fiber surrounded by the PML reduced to two dimensions; ρ−z
ρ plane of the optical fiber.

ρ → ρ̃ = sρ (ρ )dρ (6a)

0 can now be transformed to the time domain by the relationship
z ∂/∂t → jω. Once this is done, by approximating the temporal
ρ → z̃ = sρ (z  )dz  . (6b) derivates by the scheme of the finite differences, we get
0
n+1/2
n−1/2
Bρ
i,j = [(2ε − σz ∆t)/2ε + σz ∆t] Bρ
i,j
Thus, for example, the Maxwell’s equations in the PML
n
medium for the magnetic field components are expressed as − [2ε/(2ε + σz ∆t)] [m∆t/(i − 1)µ∆ρ)] Ez
i,j

   + [2ε/(2ε + σz ∆t)] [∆t/(µ∆z)]

0 −∂Z ±m/ρ Eρ 

n 
 ∂Z −∂ρ   Eφ  × Eφ
i,j+1 − Eφ
i,j
n
0 (14)
±m/ρ (∂ρρ )/ρ 0 Ez
n+1/2
n−1/2
  Hρ
i,j = [(2ε − γρ ∆t)/2ε + γρ ∆t] Hρ
i,j
jω ((sφ sz )/sρ ) µHρ
= −  jω ((sρ sz )/sφ ) µHφ 
n+1/2
(7) − [(1/µ(2ε − σρ ∆t)/(2ε + γρ ∆t)] Bρ
i,j
jω ((sρ sφ )/sz ) Hz

n−1/2
+[(1/µ)(2ε−σρ ∆t)/(2ε+γρ ∆t)]Bρ
i,j .
with
(15)
sρ = 1 − j[σrρ /ωε] (8)
Similar expressions are deduced for the rest of the compo-
ρ nents of the fields.
sφ = ρ̃/ρ = 1/ρ (1 − jσρ /ωε)dρ = 1 − jγρ /ωε (9)
0
III. F IBERS AND S IMULATIONS
sz = 1 − j [(σrz )/(ωε)] (10)
We analyzed the propagation of the electromagnetic waves
where σρ , γρ , and σz are the coefficients defined in the PML in four different optical fibers by the technique BOR [11]
region that enable the attenuation of the wave in this region combined with the FFT. We took m = 1 as the mode number,
(see Fig. 2) and ε is the permittivity. We have chosen a second- λ = 1550 nm, ∆ρ = 0.155 µm, ∆z = 0.155 µm, and ∆t =
order polynomial function for the coefficients σz , σρ , and 2.59 × 10−16 s. To determine whether the simulated fiber was
γρ of the PML region [16]. In this formulation of the PML long enough to reach the steady state, we used the same method
medium, the fields must be calculated by defining the auxiliary as in [17]. Other modes can be propagated by the fiber, but,
function [12] as we are undertaking a monomodal characterization in the
optical fibers, we are interested only in knowing the features
Bρ ≡ µ(sφ /sρ )Hρ (11) of the fundamental mode. For this reason, we simulate only the
propagation of the fundamental mode.
The BOR method enabled us to treat the 3-D problem as one
and taking into account the equation for Hρ (7), we get a
equivalent to two dimensions [11].
two-step procedure that enables us to calculate the fields. The
As explained above, the input was a Gaussian pulse modu-
equations
lated by a sinusoid signal. This pulse was started in an initial
line (at the beginning of the fiber) and was propagated by
jωBρ + (σz /ε)Bρ = (m/ρ)Ez + (∂Eφ /∂z) (12)
the fiber until reaching the endface. Once the entire length
jωµHρ + µ(γρ /ε)Hρ = jωBρ + (σρ /ε)Bρ (13) of the fiber was simulated, Fourier transform was carried out
3132
Fig. 3. Refractive-index profile of the optical fiber number 1.
Fig. 4. Refractive-index profile of the optical fiber number 2.
(by the FFT algorithm) at the pulses at each point on the final
plane of the fiber, thus establishing the intensity pattern at the
exit of the fiber.
It is important to note that, although we reduced the problem
to two dimensions, the algorithm solves the six components
of the electromagnetic field (plus 12 pseudocomponents in the
PML region), thus providing the solution in three dimensions.
Figs. 3–6 present the optical-fiber refractive-index profiles used
to calculate the intensity pattern. The measurements of the
index profiles were made at the Departamento de Metrología
del Instituto de Física Aplicada, Consejo Superior de Investi-
gaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain, using the refracted
near-field method recommended by the Comité Consultatif In-
ternationale de Télégraphie et Téléphonie (CCITT) [18], [19].
The graphs presented here are modeled. The dimensions of the
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 24, NO. 8, AUGUST 2006
Fig. 5. Refractive-index profile of the optical fiber number 3.
Fig. 6. Refractive-index profile of the optical fiber number 4.
fibers are 120 µm in overall diameter, but the core diameter
varies from one fiber to another, as reflected in Figs. 3–6.
IV. R ESULTS AND D ISCUSSION
In all the optical fibers that operate in the monomodal regime,
mode HE11 is the only one that is propagated, signifying that
the intensity pattern should be adjusted to a Bessel J0 function
in the core and to the modified Bessel function in the cladding.
We do not know whether these fibers transport other modes
apart from the fundamental one, but we are interested only
in the intensity pattern of the fundamental mode because we
seek to characterize the monomodal state, and therefore, we
transported only the HE11 mode.
We calculated the intensity pattern in fibers 1 and 4 in
the core and in the cladding. Afterwards, we calculated the
PÉREZ-OCÓN et al.: FAST SINGLE-MODE CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTICAL FIBER BY FDTD METHOD 3133

variance-accounting-for (VAF) value to determine the goodness

of the fit of the two curves [20].
The VAF is a correlation coefficient calculated from
Cauchy–Schwarz’s inequality via the expression
 n 2  n
   n
2
VAF = ak bk ak b2k (16)
k=1 k=1 k=1

where ak is the intensity value of each point of the diameter

of the endface of the fiber (determined with the analytical solu-
tion), bk is its equivalent but determined by the FDTD method,
and n is the number of data. The closer this coefficient gets to
unity, the more similar the two curves become. This coefficient
is related to the confidence level of a normal distribution.

A. Fiber 1
To make a better comparison with the rest of the results, we
normalized the intensity of fiber 1, and the rest were normalized
Fig. 7. Comparison of the intensity pattern of fiber 1 at the endface in the
with respect to this fiber. core.
The first comparison of the intensities at the endface was
made with this fiber (Fig. 3) because the Maxwell’s equations
have an analytical solution. Thus, we could compare the good-
ness of the FDTD method of the monomodal characterization.
If the results by the method proposed are adjusted to the theo-
retic (exact) results, we could state that the numerical method
proposed is an appropriate method for characterizing a single-
mode optical fiber. First, we analytically calculated the intensity
at the endface, and afterward, we propagated the Gaussian pulse
given in (5). As the radiation of the fundamental mode used
in communications is the one that travels through the core and
not through the cladding, we focused on the study of the core.
The result of the VAF in the core was 0.99—that is, the curves
were equal to 99% confidence level (that is almost a perfect fit,
given that a VAF of 100% signifies that the points of the graph
would be equal). This demonstrates a rather good fit between
the theoretic intensity curve at the endface of the fiber and the
calculated intensity on propagating a theoretic pulse through it,
as shown in Fig. 7. The intensity pattern in the endface (core) is
the Bessel function J0 . Fig. 8. Comparison of the intensity pattern of fiber 2 at the endface in the
The broken line corresponds to the theoretic pattern and the core. The broken line corresponds to the theoretic pattern and the continuous
continuous one to that calculated from the FDTD method. one to that calculated from the FDTD method.
In view of this result, we can state that fiber 1 behaves as
single mode for the wavelength of 1550 nm. Furthermore, we given in (5). The result of the VAF at the core was 0.99 (i.e.,
can confirm that the FDTD method used for the monomodal as a perfect fit), which in this case was even greater than in
characterization of an optical fiber is appropriate, as there fiber 1. This again demonstrates that the fit is excellent between
are practically no differences between the intensity profiles the theoretic intensity curve at the endface of the fiber and the
calculated by this method and the analytical results. intensity calculated in propagating a pulse through the fiber, as
depicted in Fig. 8.
With this result, we can state that fiber 2 also behaves as a
B. Fiber 2
single mode for the wavelength of 1550 nm. Given that in both
The second comparison of the intensities at the endface was cases the VAF exceeded 0.99, we can confirm that the FDTD
made with an another fiber (Fig. 4) because the Maxwell’s method used for the monomodal characterization of an optical
equations also have an analytical solution in this case. This is a fiber is excellent, as there are practically no differences between
null dispersion shifted to 1.55 µm (“depressed cladding”). the two solutions.
Again, we compared the goodness of the FDTD method of The FDTD inaccuracies result from the temporal and spatial
the monomodal characterization. We analytically calculated the discretization of the problem. It might be expected that, as the
intensity of the endface and propagated the Gaussian pulse time step and the spatial increment approach zero, errors are
3134
Fig. 9. Intensity pattern of fiber 3 at the endface in the core, which is
calculated from the FDTD method.
reduced, and the FDTD results approach the exact solution.
Thus, for a given discretization scheme, it is possible to improve
the accuracy by means of the choice of the spatial increment.
We have to take into account that the time increment is related
to the spatial increment [see (4)].
C. Fiber 3
This is the null dispersion shifted to 1.55 µm (“depressed
cladding”), and the profile is shown in Fig. 5.
This profile impedes the analytical solution of the Maxwell’s
equations, and therefore, we have to use the numerical methods.
As with the previous fibers, we calculated the intensity pattern
at the endface of the fiber by the FDTD method (see Fig. 9). As
we have demonstrated in the other cases that this method works,
we can assure that this fiber, with this wavelength, operates in
the monomodal regime.
D. Fiber 4
This is the null dispersion shifted to 1.55 µm (“depressed
cladding”), and the profile is shown in Fig. 6.
As it occurred with fiber 3, the profile of the refractive
index hampered the Maxwell’s equations from being solved
analytically, and thus, we again had to use a numerical method.
We calculated the intensity pattern at the endface of the fiber
by the FDTD method (Fig. 10). As we have demonstrated in
the other cases that this method works, we can assure that
this fiber, with this wavelength, operates in the monomodal
regime.
Given the results, we conclude that this method can be used
for the monomodal characterization of the optical fibers. As
stated above, sometimes it is very difficult (or impossible) to
predict whether an optical fiber is single mode under certain
circumstances. By virtue of the method that we propose, the
method that we would follow to determine whether a fiber
operates in a monomodal regime would be the following: Once
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 24, NO. 8, AUGUST 2006
Fig. 10. Intensity pattern of fiber 4 at the endface in the core, which is
calculated from the FDTD method.
we calculate the intensity pattern by the FDTD method in order
to operate in the single mode, as shown in Figs. 7–10, we
have the theoretic base; the second step is to determine experi-
mentally the intensity pattern. By comparing the two intensity
distributions (theoretic and experimental) and calculating the
similarity of the curves, we can determine whether the working
regime of the fiber is single mode or not. In this way, we
can quickly and easily characterize any type of fiber before
working with it and before having the optical fiber function in
a communication network.
Under certain circumstances, modes other than the funda-
mental one could be propagated through a fiber. The mode
of an order following the fundamental one has a minimum
intensity on the fiber axis. The image-capturing device, if it
lacks high resolution, could measure a maximum intensity on
the axis (due to the fundamental mode), with a width that
spans the maximums of the following mode if these maximums
were close. For this reason, we should compare the theoretic
measurements with the experimental ones.
All the fibers were illuminated with the same intensity to
compare the exit intensity. The results are normalized, with
the intensity determined at the endface of fiber 1, which was
the intensity of the maximum output. We calculated the total
power in all the fibers, integrating the intensity over the fiber
cross section. By calculating the total power at the endfaces,
we conclude that the profile, which transports the most power,
is that of fiber 4, which did so by a factor of ten higher than did
the reference fiber (fiber 1). This may be because the refractive
index of the core was the greatest of all, being approximately
1.4661 (fiber 4). Fiber 2 transported a relative power of 107
times lower than did fiber 1 (the reference). This may be due
to the fact that the maximum refractive index of this fiber was
1.4567, which is a lower refractive index than with fiber 4.
Finally, fiber 3 transported a lower power than did fibers 1 and
4. This fiber has a maximum refractive index at the core of
1.4672 (greatest of all). Thus, the power of the endface of the
PÉREZ-OCÓN et al.: FAST SINGLE-MODE CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTICAL FIBER BY FDTD METHOD
fiber should be the greatest, but this is not so. The key may be on
the dip presented in the center of the core. The refractive index
of this dip is 1.466. This refractive index is greater than the
refractive index of the core of fiber 2, and therefore, the power
is greater than in this fiber, but, on being less in fiber 4, the final
power decreases with respect this fiber. That is, although the
maximum refractive index of the core of the fibers compared
was maximum, the power at the endface was not due to the
manufacturing defect (the dip).
In the case of the fiber 1, the distance at which the steady
state was found was 7224 cells, i.e., 1120 µm. In the rest of the
fibers, it was 8391 cells, i.e., 1300 µm.
The monomodal characterization that we have proposed is
more complete, whole, and perfect than the calculation of the
cutoff frequency proposed by other authors. One proposed
method is the effective cutoff wavelength, but the effective
cutoff wavelength is always smaller than the theoretical cutoff
wavelength because of the large attenuation of the fundamental
mode. The parameter, which is experimentally determined, is
the effective cutoff wavelength, but it is impossible to calculate
that in a real fiber [21].
Since the attenuation of the fundamental mode depends on
the fiber length and its radius of curvature, the effective cutoff
wavelength tends to vary with the measurement method. More-
over, numerous measurement methods have been investigated
[21], [22], and because these techniques can give significantly
different results, the measurement process has caused some
problems [23].
V. C ONCLUSION
In the optical-fiber communications, it is assumed that the
optical fibers are working as a single mode, but this is not true
in every case. Therefore, knowledge of this fact is essential for
the efficiency of the optical communication. If the fiber works
as a multimode one, we will have a high attenuation, dispersion,
etc., with the consequence of an inefficient transmission as
well as wasted money. Thus, even before the installation of an
optical-fiber network, the monomodal regime of each individual
fiber should be checked in a quick and easy way. At the
moment, a monomodal characterization has not been made. We
do not only propose one, but one that is easy and fast as well.
This is the important aspect of this paper.
Because the cutoff method presents some problems, as dis-
cussed in the last paragraph of the discussion; we have used the
FDTD method.
In this paper, we have made a monomodal characterization
of the four different optical fibers used in the optical-fiber
communications, by the FDTD method. First, we validated the
method for the two fibers for which the theoretical intensity
patterns in the steady state are known because they have an
analytical solution. Next, we applied the algorithm in order to
characterize the monomodal regime in two fibers, in which the
refractive indexes were known but with no analytical solution
for the intensity pattern.
We have demonstrated the power and versatility of the
BOR–FDTD method combined with the FFT algorithm, to de-
termine whether a fiber is single mode or not. This is an efficient
3135
technique, which substantially reduces the requirements of the
CPU memory and time.
When the cutoff wavelength is calculated, it can vary from
one point of the fiber to another. In fact, what we calculate
at each moment is the local cutoff wavelength. When the fiber
undergoes curvature, attenuations for an excess OH− , etc., the
cutoff wavelength varies. However, what never varies if the
fiber is monomodal is the pattern of the intensities at the endface
of the fiber.
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ization of the mode profile of single-mode DFB fiber lasers,” IEEE J.
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F. Pérez-Ocón received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and
electronic physics from University of Granada, Granada, Spain, in 1987, 1989,
and 1996, respectively.
He is an Associate Professor with the Science Faculty, University of Granada.
He is an External Consultant with the Telefónica S.A. (Spain). Since 2004,
he has been the Director of the Optics and Optometry Studies, University of
Granada. He has published a book on fiber optics. He has been conducting
research in optoelectronic, electrical and electronic engineering, and optical
engineering and fiber optics, publishing several papers in these fields.
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JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 24, NO. 8, AUGUST 2006
Antonio M. Pozo received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics from Univer-
sity of Granada, Granada, Spain, in 2000 and 2003, respectively, where he is
also a graduate in optics and optometry.
He is an Associate Professor with the Science Faculty, University of Granada.
He has been conducting research in optical engineering and physiological
optics, publishing several papers in these fields.
José R. Jiménez received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in physics from
University of Granada, Granada, Spain, in 1987, 1989, and 1994, respectively,
where he is also a graduate in mathematics.
He is an Associate Professor with the Science Faculty, University of Granada.
He has been conducting research in physiological optics and mathematical
physics. He has published over 50 papers included in the Science Citation Index
(SCI).
Enrique Hita received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry and the Ph.D.
degree in physics from University of Granada, Granada, Spain, in 1970 and
1975, respectively.
He is a Full Professor with the Science Faculty, University of Granada, and
the Dean of this Faculty since 2000. He is the Head of the Optics Group of
Granada. He has published over 100 papers included in the SCI.