Study of Graded-Index Optical Fibre Parameters Using MATLAB
Name: KORITALA GEETHIKA CHOWDARY
[Link]: 22WH1A0497
Abstract
This report presents the analysis and simulation of a graded-index (GI) optical fibre using
MATLAB. Various fibre parameters such as the refractive index profile, numerical aperture
distribution, relative index difference (Δ), acceptance angle, and mode confinement
characteristics are computed and visualized. Three refractive index configurations—n₁ > n₂,
n₁ = n₂, and n₁ < n₂—are analyzed to compare guiding behavior. The study demonstrates
how refractive index grading influences the acceptance angle and light confinement within
the fibre. MATLAB visualizations of n₁(r) and NA(r) show the effect of index contrast on
guiding efficiency.
Introduction
Optical fibres are the backbone of modern communication systems, offering high-speed,
low-loss data transmission. In a graded-index (GI) fibre, the refractive index of the core
decreases gradually from the centre (axis) towards the cladding. This variation minimizes
modal dispersion by ensuring that light rays traveling different paths arrive simultaneously.
The refractive index profile in a graded-index fibre follows the power-law relation:
n(r) = n₁ × [1 - 2Δ × (r/a)^α]^(1/2), where 0 ≤ r ≤ a
where:
- n₁ = refractive index at the fibre axis (core centre)
- n₂ = refractive index at the cladding
- a = core radius
- α = profile parameter (α = 2 for a parabolic profile)
- Δ = [(n₁² - n₂²) / (2n₁²)] = relative index difference
The Numerical Aperture (NA) and Acceptance Angle (θₐ) determine the light-gathering
ability of the fibre and are given by:
NA(r) = [n(r)² - n₂²]^(1/2)
θₐ = sin⁻¹(NA)
This report analyzes three different refractive index scenarios using MATLAB to
demonstrate light guidance in graded-index fibres.
Methodology
A MATLAB program was developed to automatically compute and visualize the graded-
index fibre parameters for three different cases:
1. Case A: n₁ = 1.480, n₂ = 1.460 — Guiding fibre (normal condition)
2. Case B: n₁ = 1.455, n₂ = 1.460 — Inverted index (no guidance)
3. Case C: n₁ = 1.460, n₂ = 1.460 — Equal indices (no contrast)
The simulation assumes:
- Core diameter (d) = 10 μm
- Core radius (a) = 5 μm
- Profile parameter (α) = 2
- Evaluation radius (r) = 0.5a = 2.5 μm
Parameters calculated:
- Relative Index Difference (Δ) = (n₁² - n₂²) / (2n₁²)
- On-axis Numerical Aperture (NA₀) = (n₁² - n₂²)^(1/2)
- Acceptance Angle (θₐ) = sin⁻¹(NA₀)
- Radial profiles n₁(r) and NA(r)
Code
clc;
clear;
close all;
d_um = 10; % Core diameter in micrometers
alpha = 2; % Profile parameter (α = 2 -> parabolic)
r_query_fr = 0.5; % Fraction of radius for acceptance angle
evaluation
% Cases: [n1, n2, label]
scenarios = {
1.480, 1.460, 'Case A: n1>n2 (Guiding fibre)';
1.455, 1.460, 'Case B: n1<n2 (No guidance)';
1.460, 1.460, 'Case C: n1=n2 (No contrast)'
};
a_um = d_um / 2; % Core radius (μm)
r_query_um = r_query_fr * a_um; % Point to evaluate acceptance angle
R = ([Link]_um).'; % Radial grid (μm)
for k = 1:size(scenarios,1)
n1 = scenarios{k,1};
n2 = scenarios{k,2};
label = scenarios{k,3};
% --- Fibre parameters ---
Delta = ((n1^2) - (n2^2)) / (2*(n1^2)); % Relative index
diff
NA0 = sqrt(max(n1^2 - n2^2, 0)); % On-axis NA
nr = n1 * sqrt(max(0, 1 - 2*Delta*(R./a_um).^alpha)); % Refractive
index profile
NAr = sqrt(max(nr.^2 - n2^2, 0)); % NA vs r
% --- Acceptance angle at r_query ---
NA_rq = sqrt(max((n1^2*(1 - 2*Delta*(r_query_um/a_um)^alpha) - n2^2),
0));
theta_deg = asind(min(max(NA_rq, 0), 1));
% --- Determine case type ---
if n1 > n2
note = 'Guiding possible (Light confined)';
note_color = 'g'; % green
elseif n1 < n2
note = 'No guidance (n1 < n2)';
note_color = 'r'; % red
else
note = 'No index contrast (Homogeneous)';
note_color = [0 0.447 0.741]; % blue
end
% --- Console Output ---
fprintf('\n%s\n', label);
fprintf('n1 = %.4f, n2 = %.4f\n', n1, n2);
fprintf('Δ (relative index diff) : %.5f\n', Delta);
fprintf('NA(0) : %.4f\n', NA0);
fprintf('Acceptance angle θa : %.2f° at r = %.2f μm\n',
theta_deg, r_query_um);
fprintf('→ %s\n', note);
% --- Plot n1(r) ---
figure;
plot(R, nr, 'LineWidth', 2);
hold on; yline(n2, '--', sprintf('n_2 = %.3f', n2));
grid on; box on;
xlabel('r (μm)'); ylabel('n_1(r)');
title(sprintf('%s\nn_1(r) vs radius', label),'Interpreter','none');
ylim([min([n1,n2])-0.005, max([n1,n2])+0.01]);
text(a_um*0.05, mean([n1,n2]), note, 'Color', note_color, ...
'FontWeight', 'bold', 'FontSize', 7,
'BackgroundColor','w','Margin',3);
% --- Plot NA(r) ---
figure;
plot(R, NAr, 'LineWidth', 2, 'Color', [0.25 0.25 0.25]);
grid on; box on;
xlabel('r (μm)'); ylabel('NA(r)');
title(sprintf('%s\nNA(r) vs radius', label),'Interpreter','none');
ylim([-0.01, max(NAr)*1.2+0.05]);
text(a_um*0.05, max(NAr)*0.7+0.02, note, 'Color', note_color, ...
'FontWeight', 'bold', 'FontSize', 7,
'BackgroundColor','w','Margin',3);
end
Results
Case A: n1>n2 (Guiding fibre)
n1 = 1.4800, n2 = 1.4600
Δ (relative index diff) : 0.01342
NA(0) : 0.2425
Acceptance angle θa : 12.12° at r = 2.50 μm
→ Guiding possible (Light confined)
Case B: n1<n2 (No guidance)
n1 = 1.4550, n2 = 1.4600
Δ (relative index diff) : -0.00344
NA(0) : 0.0000
Acceptance angle θa : 0.00° at r = 2.50 μm
→ No guidance (n1 < n2)
Case C: n1=n2 (No contrast)
n1 = 1.4600, n2 = 1.4600
Δ (relative index diff) : 0.00000
NA(0) : 0.0000
Acceptance angle θa : 0.00° at r = 2.50 μm
→ No index contrast (Homogeneous)
Observations:
Case n₁ n₂ Δ NA(0) θₐ (°) Observation
A 1.480 1.460 0.01342 0.2425 12.12 Guiding
possible (light
confined)
B 1.455 1.460 -0.00344 0.0000 0.00 No guidance
(n₁ < n₂)
C 1.460 1.460 0.00000 0.0000 0.00 No index
contrast
(homogeneous)
Result Analysis
For n₁ > n₂: Fibre guides light with a parabolic refractive index distribution.
For n₁ = n₂: No index contrast; no confinement occurs.
For n₁ < n₂: Light cannot be guided as the cladding index exceeds the core index.
The gradual index change in GI fibres minimizes intermodal dispersion, resulting in better
performance than step-index fibres.
Conclusion
The MATLAB-based study successfully simulated the graded-index optical fibre for multiple
refractive index configurations. The results confirm that light confinement occurs only
when n₁ > n₂, and the refractive index profile determines modal distribution and dispersion.
The variation of NA(r) provides insight into fibre acceptance characteristics, and parabolic
profiles (α = 2) minimize intermodal dispersion. This simulation highlights the superior
performance of graded-index fibres compared to step-index fibres in multimode
applications.
