Optical dispersion — UPSC Physics Optional IFoS 2017 Paper I

(i) Explain the reason for pulse broadening due to intermodal and material dispersion. Deduce the relation of pulse broadening for intermodal dispersion in optical fiber. (ii) A step index fiber in air has a numerical aperture of 0\cdot 16, a core refractive index of 1\cdot 45 and a core diameter of 60~\mu\text{m}. Determine the normalized frequency for the fiber when light at a wavelength of 0\cdot 8~\mu\text{m} is transmitted. Also estimate the number of guided modes propagating in the fiber.