8.2: Acceptance Angle
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In this section, we consider the problem of injecting light into a fiber optic cable. The problem is illustrated in Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\).

In this figure, we see light incident from a medium having index of refraction \(n_0\), with angle of incidence \(\theta^i\). The light is transmitted with angle of transmission \(\theta_2\) into the fiber, and is subsequently incident on the surface of the cladding with angle of incidence \(\theta_3\). For light to propagate without loss within the cable, it is required that
\[\sin\theta_3 \ge \frac{n_c}{n_f} \label{m0192_eCAnm} \]
since this criterion must be met in order for total internal reflection to occur.
Now consider the constraint that Equation \ref{m0192_eCAnm} imposes on \(\theta^i\). First, we note that \(\theta_3\) is related to \(\theta_2\) as follows:
\[\theta_3 = \frac{\pi}{2} - \theta_2 \nonumber \]
therefore
\begin{align} \sin\theta_3 &= \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{2} - \theta_2\right) \\ &= \cos\theta_2 \end{align}
so
\[\cos\theta_2 \ge \frac{n_c}{n_f} \nonumber \]
Squaring both sides, we find:
\[\cos^2\theta_2 \ge \frac{n_c^2}{n_f^2} \nonumber \]
Now invoking a trigonometric identity:
\[1-\sin^2\theta_2 \ge \frac{n_c^2}{n_f^2} \nonumber \]
so:
\[\sin^2\theta_2 \le 1-\frac{n_c^2}{n_f^2} \label{m0192_e1} \]
Now we relate the \(\theta_2\) to \(\theta^i\) using Snell’s law:
\[\sin\theta_2 = \frac{n_0}{n_f}\sin\theta^i \nonumber \]
so Equation \ref{m0192_e1} may be written:
\[\frac{n_0^2}{n_f^2}\sin^2\theta^i \le 1-\frac{n_c^2}{n_f^2} \nonumber \]
Now solving for \(\sin\theta^i\), we obtain:
\[\sin\theta^i \le \frac{1}{n_0}\sqrt{ n_f^2 - n_c^2 } \nonumber \]
This result indicates the range of angles of incidence which result in total internal reflection within the fiber. The maximum value of \(\theta^i\) which satisfies this condition is known as the acceptance angle \(\theta_a\), so:
\[\theta_a \triangleq \arcsin\left(\frac{1}{n_0}\sqrt{ n_f^2 - n_c^2 }\right) \nonumber \]
This leads to the following insight:
In order to effectively launch light in the fiber, it is necessary for the light to arrive from within a cone having half-angle \(\theta_a\) with respect to the axis of the fiber.
The associated cone of acceptance is illustrated in Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\).

It is also common to define the quantity numerical aperture NA as follows:
\[\mbox{NA} \triangleq \frac{1}{n_0}\sqrt{ n_f^2 - n_c^2 } \label{m0192_eNA} \]
Note that \(n_0\) is typically very close to \(1\) (corresponding to incidence from air), so it is common to see NA defined as simply \(\sqrt{ n_f^2 - n_c^2 }\). This parameter is commonly used in lieu of the acceptance angle in datasheets for fiber optic cable.
Typical values of \(n_f\) and \(n_c\) for an optical fiber are 1.52 and 1.49, respectively. What are the numerical aperture and the acceptance angle?
Solution
Using Equation \ref{m0192_eNA} and presuming \(n_0=1\), we find NA \(\cong \underline{0.30}\). Since \(\sin\theta_a =\) NA, we find \(\theta_a=\underline{17.5^{\circ}}\). Light must arrive from within \(17.5^{\circ}\) from the axis of the fiber in order to ensure total internal reflection within the fiber.