Abstract
The effect of bending of step-index optical fiber on its refractive index profile and the mode field distribution were investigated. An enhanced slab model is suggested in this investigation. A qualitative study has been done on a bent step-index optical fiber. A very small radius of bending curvature (R) has been reached, practically R is 9.25mm. In this case a dramatic change of the refractive index profile has been observed with an induced birefringence. The refractive index profile is recovered from the interferograms which were generated by Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The interferogram has been analyzed using advanced image analyses software. We have proposed another approach to calculate the refractive index profile of bent optical fiber. In this approach the fiber is divided into layers and slabs, simultaneously. The induced refractive index profile variation of the bent optical fiber, for parallel and perpendicular components of the light beam, is calculated considering the refraction of the light beam traversing the fiber. The mode field distribution and mode numbers in these two directions of polarizations are determined for both straight and bent fibers.
•Investigation of the bending effect of step-index optical fiber.•An enhanced slab model is suggested in this investigation.•The refractive index profile is calculated.•The induced refractive index profile is calculated.•The mode field distribution and the mode numbers are determined.