Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on L-8

Properties and Applications of Dielectric Materials

July 19-23,2009, Harbin, China

Study on the Structure Design and Simulation of mPOF

Dai Wan, Xu Li, Lisheng Zhong *, Guang Ouyang, Junwei Zhao

State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation & Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University,
Xi'an, Shaanxi , 710049, China
*Email: Iszhong @mail.xjtu.edu.cn

Abstract: Microstructured polymer optical fibers
(mPOF) have many unique and promising characters
compared with traditional polymer optical fibers, such
as the infinite single-mode guidance, the photonic
band-gap effect and the unique nonlinearities, which
can offer promising opportunities in optical
communication system and optical sensor field. The
mechanism of photonic bandgap effect of the one
dimension photonic crystal model was explained. And
then the Optiwave FDTD 4.0 software was used to
simulate the mPOF' transmission field, which can be
achieved by calculating the transmittance of light
propagating through mPOF transverse section. Three
types of mPOF models were designed in this paper,
after which the relationship between transmission
windows and the structure of mPOF was deduced by
means of simulation and calculation. The results may be
helpful to the following research of the mPOF.
Take lightwave normal incidence in the one dimension
photonic crystal in Figure 1 model. The thickness and
refract ive index of medium 1 and medium 2 are
represented as a, n, and b, nz respectively. L] represents
the incident light and Lz and L3 represent the reflected
light.
When the incident light L 1 (at wavelength of ).)
propagates on the second unit of one dimension
photonic crystal, the light will be reflected in the
interface between those two mediums. Optical path
difference IlL from Lz to L] is:
!!.L=2(n,xa+n 2 xb) (1)
If formula (1) satisfies:
m = 1,2,3 (2)

Keywords : mPOF; photonic bandgap; transmission

windows; extrusion process where m refers to nature number. L] and Lz will form
standing wave. So L3 and L] Lz will form standing
wave as well. Finally the incident light will be totally
INTRODUCTION
reflected, so it can not be propagated in one dimension
Microstructured polymer optical fiber (mPOF) has photonic crystal. In other words there are PBG in one
attracted a wide spread attention for it has got the dimension photonic crystal , and the center wavelength
advantage of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and polymer is L
optical fiber (PO F). It's as soft, cheap, easy to connect
incident lir:ht a b
and easy to manufacture as POF. Just as PCF, the fiber
structure is flexible and transmission characteristics of
light are exotic [1-3]. So it can offer promising
opportunities in optical communication system. But due
to material and preparation technology, at present
international research has not got the photonic band-gap
(PBG) effect of mPOF [4, 5]. However research shows
that flexible material selection and structure design of
mPOF make it potentially to be used in optical sensor
field .

THE FORMATION OF PHOTONIC BAND GAP reflected

lir:ht

Bragg Reflection Model

Figure 1: Light propagation in 1D photonic crystal s

As we know, Bragg reflection based on wave dynamics
is normally used to explain the formation of electronic
energy band-gap in dielectric materials, which will be
introduced to understand the forming principle of PBG
in this paper. An ideal crystal structure is taken to
analysis the total reflection of lightwave in one
dimension photonic crystal as shown in Figure 1.
Therefore when the periodic structure size of those two
different medium can catch up with the light
wavelength, photonic band-gap (PBG) effect will occur.
Central Wavelength of PBG
Central wavelength of PBG of one dimension photonic

978-1-4244-4368-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 1244

crystal can be calculated from formula (2)
/L = 2( n j x a + nz x b)
m = 1,2,3 (3)
c
m types of mPOF all consist of substrate-PMMA and
Thus central frequency is:
I" -_
J' ,
me m= 1, 23
, (4)
c 2(n] xa+n z xb)
where c refers to the light velocity in vacuum.
The above content is the calculation formula which
based on wave mechanics. It is considered that, PSG
wavelength relate to thickness of medium a, band
index of medium n.
THE DESIGN AND SIMULAnON OF mPOF
Method
For mPOF section is 2D photonic crystal structure, and
this periodic structure would induce PSG effect at
mPOF transverse section, so when light wave is
transverse incidence, the light with certain frequency
will decay by maximum extent. In other word, there
will be a wave trough in the transmission spectrum , and
the position of the wave trough is considered as PSG
frequency (wavelength). When the light with that
frequency (wavelength) transmit in mPOF , the light
wave divulging from transverse section can be maximal
degree inhibited. It reduce transmission loss primely,
thus this frequency (wavelength) is called transmission
window ofmPOF.
In this paper Optiwave FDTD 4.0 software is used to
simulate the mPOF 's transmission field. Finite
Different Time Domain (FDTD) is transform Maxwell
equation with time variable into difference equation in
the space. In those difference schemes electric field
(magnetic field) component of every single grid point
just relate to the adjacent magnetic field (electric field)
component and the field value of the up time step.
Simulating the electric field and magnetic field
component at every single grid point at every time step,
with the propulsion of time step, it can immediately
simulate the electromagnetic wave's transmission and
interaction process with each other objects. Simulated
space parameters of electromagnetic properties is given
by a form of space grid point at difference schemes ,
therefore it is only need to set proper parameters,
various structures of medium with many special
properties can be simulated accurately, such as
nonuniformity, anisotropy, dispersion properties and
nonlinearity [6].
Structure Model
The section structures of mPOF with three-hole,
1245
nine-hole and nineteen-hole have been designed
respectively by using waveguide design module of
Optiwave FDTD software in this paper. Those three
ventage array, as show in Figure 2. PMMA is high light
transmittance and amorphous polymer material, its
index is npMMA=1.49. Air 's index is n=l.O.
<1> \
<1> 0.768
<l> 0.318
<l>0.2L 1
0 .45
(a) Three-hole mPOF (b) Nine-hole mPOF
_<p~ 2 5 <P I
<P 0.125 <P 0.75
<P 0.25
<P 0.15
(c) Nineteen-hole mPOF
Figure 2: The section structure s ofmPOF model (the unit is mm)
In Figure 2, black section is PMMA, and white section
is air.
Structure parameters of mPOF always have a closed
relationship with its transmission window. Getting
effects of structure parameters to transmission window
is important to prepare mPOF with specific properties.
So the authors get those three types of mPOF with
different structures and different size simulated in this
paper, as to analysis different diameter dimension 's
effects on transmission window ofmPOF.
Simulation
The object of calculation is the transversely incident
light to the section structure of mPOF, and the
relationship between transmittance and wavelength can
be obtained. So at simulation time an exciting source is
placed at the left of section of mPOF, getting the
exciting source transmitting transversely through mPOF.
Then place an observation point at the right, as to
collect E and H of transmitted field as shown in Figure
3. Finally take electric field E at the observation point
normalization processing; transmission spectrum of
electric field E which changed with incident wavelength
can be obtained. In the transmission spectrum wave
trough 's wavelength correspond to the wave which
forbidden to transmit transversely. When it transmits
along axial direction of mPOF, the light loss is least.
Therefore wave trough 's wavelength is called
transmission window. The Optiwave FDTD simulation
flowchart is shown in Figure 4.
 ! !
1\ 1\
;\ I\
-40

·5 0 t -t cWo ~ II
; ~ I~
II!
n ·/1
I~ ',U
I~
· 60
1"-
exciting -70
source
-8 0
~I
I \ !
II \ /
0.5 0.6 0.7 ')J ll m 0.8 0.9
Figure 3: Simulation model of transmission window ofmPOF
(a) E y ' of three-hole mPOF of Imm diameter

- .--1
II

I.i~
\ ~~. ,m
'--- - -.,--- - --' ---~ ~I
I design link I -40 ~

l ' '\
II! I~
- - ~j -
~~
-50
_/ -6o
V -
II V \) ~
'
I t~ rl
-70
II'
_._- \ -80
' - - - - -. , - - - - - ' \

.. _._\ \\ 0.5 0.6 0.7 ')J J.lITI 0.8 0.9

'--- - - r--- - --' \ \

(b) Ey ' of nine-hole mPOF of Imm diameter
\'
'-----,------'--,j;1.1simulation link I
o~
r-
.._-1/ ' I t-.A

I \ ,
/
'--- - - ,-- - --' ! -3
J I
-- '
!!
-5
:-\-1V -.,JI-
~'i
~, V V ~ 7-
o ~\f .'lrJ, l~;
-6
o II
II "

' - - - - - - - -- - '
··--~ I data analyzing I -7 0
0.5 0.6 0.7 )J J.lrn 0.8 0.9

Figure 4: Simulation flowchart

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
An observation point is placed at the right in Figure 3,
as to collect E and H of transmitted light, and calculate
poynting vector S, Finally take electric field Ey()_) at the
observation point and Eyo()_) at the exciting source
normali zation processing, transmission spectrum of
electric field Ey '()_) could be got As follows, it's the
relationship between transmission window and fiber
diameter.
It is mentioned in previous paper that in the
transmission spectrum wave trough corre spond to the
wave which forbidd en to transmit tran sversely. When
the light transmit s along axial direction of mPOF , the
light loss is least If the loss goes lower than -50db , that
wave band can be considered as PSG.
The Effect of Different Structures to Transmission
Characteristics of mPOF
In order to investigate the relation ship between the
structure and the transmis sion characteri stics of mPOF,
three-hole, nine-hole and nineteen-hol e mPOF with
1mm diameter are simulated respectivel y.
(c) Ev' of nineteen-hole mPOF of I mm diameter
Figure 5: Ev' ·of mPOF of Imm diameter with different structures
As show in Figure 5(a), between the wavelength 0.5f-lm
and l.Oum, there are several transmission window s in
three-hole mPOF. Especially in the most commonly
used interval of optical fiber communication field
0.6f-lm-0.9f-lm, there are six transmission windows
obviously , and the centre wavelength is for 0.61 urn,
0.64f-lm, 0.7f-lm, 0.74f-lm, 0.78f-lm and 0.89f-lm
respectively
As show in Figure 5(b), similar as three-hole mPOF for
diamet er Imm , between the wavelength O.5f-lm and
l.Dum, there are severa l transmi ssion windows in
nine-hole mPOF as well. Especially in the most
commonly used interval of optical fiber communication
field 0.6f-lm-0.9f-lm, there are five transmi ssion
windows obviou sly, respectiv ely for 0.62f-lm, 0.73f-lm,
0.78f-lm, 0.82f-lm and 0.88f-lm.
As show in Figure 5(c), between the wavelength 0.5f-lm
and lOum, there are several transmission window s in
nineteen-hol e mPOF . For interesting that it as similar as
nine-hol e mPO F excepting the amplitude, in the most
commonly used interval of optical fiber communication
field 0.6f-lm-0.9f-lm, there are three transmission
windows obviousl y, respectivel y for 0.62f-lm, 0.73f-lm
and 0.88f-lm.

1246
Comparing those three types of mPOF , it can be found As show in Figure 6(c), between the wavelength 0.5f..lm
that from three-hole mPOF , nine-hole mPOF to and lOum, there are several transmission windows in
nineteen-hole mPOF , periodic size decrease in tum, and nineteen-hole mPOF. In the most commonly used
three-hole mPOF 's symmetrical structure is the poorest. interval of optical fiber communication field
As show in comparison of Figure 5, the PBG-width of 0.6f..lm-0.9f..lm, there are four transmission windows
three-hole mPOF is the narrowest. obviously, respectively for 0.62f..lm, 0.73f..lm, O.78f..lm,
and 0.88f..lm.
The Effect of Different Size to Transmission
Characteristics of mPOF As shown in Figure 6(a), Figure 6(b) and Figure 6(c) ,
the group of data map express the mPOF with the same
In order to investigate the relationship between the size structure of nineteen-hole mPOF and the different size
and the transmission characteristics of mPOF, of 0.1mm diameter, 0.5mm diameter and 1mm diameter.
nineteen-hole mPOF with 0.1mm diameter, It can be found that PBG effect of mPOF turned more
nineteen-hole mPOF of 0.5mm diameter and obvious, and width of PBG turned wider with the
nineteen-hole mPOF with Imm diameter are simulated. diameter size decreases.

-~ ,----------,------.-----.---------,---"
CONCLUSIONS
~
.60t- - --t- - -+- - -+-- - IIW
It--- Hi1J-i
The Optiwave FDTD 4.0 software was used to simulate
.70t- - --t- - -+- - -+-- -Il-+--1f-- H-+-I
those three types of mPOF's transmission field. By
means of simulation and analysis, some conclusions can
be deduced: the transmission characteristics of mPOF
.80t- - --tr-r
relate to the section size of mPOF and micro-structure
0.5 0.7 )J J.lffi 0.8
ofmPOF.
(a) E v' of nineteen-hol e mPOF ofO.lmm diameter
To the mPOF composed of different micro-structures,
~ ~ the width of PBG goes wider and the PBG effect goes
.~

·3 o - f~ more and more obvious when the structure of mPOF is

~W \ looser and more asymmetric.
,~I -(
-4 0 -

.,0 " I~
I
I '~
I~ Based on the results , it can be seen that PBG effect of
·6 0
I I those three types of mPOF express very significantly.
·70 \
Moreover the mPOF designed in this paper has
0.6 0.9
0.' 0.7 )}J.1rn 0.8
advantage of simple structure and easy to realize. So the
(b)Ev' of nineteen-hole mPO F ofO.5mm diameter structure of those three types mPOF wi 11 be guiding
~T===l=+====+====+====+====1
.~
significance for the following research.
.20H\- H - 'It-- f=l--+---t--l- l- -+- -I--"1
I
REFFERENCES

[I] Y. koike , T. Ishigure, " Recent progress of polymer

0.6 0.7 )Jj..Jffi 0.8
(c) Ev' of nineteen-hol e mPOF of lmm diam eter
Figure 6: Ev' of nineteen-holes mPO F with different size
As show in Figure 6(a), because E/C'A.) is less enough,
those what is at left of the wavelength 0.8f..lm can be
considered as transmission window of nineteen-hole
mPOF of O.lmm diameter.
As show in Figure 6(b), between the wavelength 0.5f..lm
and l .Oum, there are several transmission windows in
nineteen-hole mPOF . In the most commonly used
interval of optical fiber communication field
0.6f..lm-0.9f..lm, there are six transmission windows
obviously, respectively for 0.61f..lm, 0.63f..lm, 0.7f..lm,
0.74f..lm 0.78f..lm, and 0.89f..lm.
optical fiber for high-speed data communication" , Proc.
SPIE, vol. 3799, pp290-300, 1999.
0.9
[2] W. F. Frank , A. Brauer, W. Daum, Hl Tessmann, A.
Weinert, O. Ziemann, " Polymer optical fibers in
Germany reliability test for use in premise wiring",
Proc.SPlE, vol. 3417, pp84-86, 1998.
[3] Christopher Emslie, "Review polymer optical
fibres", Materials Science, vol. 23, pp2281-2293, 1988.
[4] A.Argyros, M.A.Eijkelenborg, " Hollow-core
Microstructure Polymer Optical Fiber", PDF
Conference HongKong, pp769-772, 2005.
[5] Alexander Argyros, Maryanne C.J.Large, Martijn
A.van Eijkelenborg, "Progress and potential of
hollowcore microstructure polymer optical fibers",
PDF conferen ce, Korea, pp275-278, 2006.
[6] Optiwave Corporation, OptiFDTD Technical
Background and Tutorials, 2005.

1247