Modal Characteristics of a doubly clad step- index optical fiber- general analytical approach

Abstract

Using a fairly rigorous approach, a general characteristic equation for a doubly clad step-index fibre has been derived under the assumption that the refractive-index difference between the inner and outer cladding is small. Two different profiles, i.e., the W profile and the staircase profile, have been treated together and a discussion of their common characteristics has been made. Cutoff conditions for low-order modes have been obtained. For a certain range of values of the transverse-phase parameter ratio, the singly-clad fibre has greater mode cutoff V numbers than those of a doubly clad fibre. The analysis anticipates the possibility of obtaining greater cutoff V numbers for W-profile fibres.