Propagation Effects

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Propagation Effects

Urick, Vincent J. Jr / Mckinney, Jason D. / Williams, Keith J.

This chapter provides a detailed introduction to the impact of propagation effects on an analog signal impressed on an optical carrier in fiber. The effects studied in the chapter range from linear scattering mechanisms to relatively complicated nonlinear processes. The chapter analyzes the linear Rayleigh scattering, particularly in the context of double Rayleigh scattering (DRS) events that can cause multiple‐path interference (MPI) in fiber links. The RF phase stability can be important in microwave photonic links, particularly in multichannel applications intended to maintain the relative RF phase of each channel. The frequency dependence of the index of refraction in fiber gives rise to chromatic dispersion (CD). The chapter discusses the difference between the two modal refractive indices‐the birefringence‐changes randomly in the fiber leading to polarization mode dispersion (PMD). It also discusses two nonlinear and inelastic scattering processes, stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS).