1

SOLVED PROBLEMS

Applied Physics for CSE Stream [BPHYS102/202]

Module-1 : Lasers & Optical Fibers

1.1 Lasers

1. A medium under thermal equilibrium at 300 K has two energy levels with
wavelength separation 1 μm. Find the ratio of the population densities of upper and
lower energy levels. (DEC-2017/JAN-2018 & EEE Stream JUN/JUL- 2023)

Here, λ = 10-6 m & T = 300 K. N2

 ?
N1

Consider hc 6.63 10 34  6.63  310  0.048 103  48

 8 
kT 3106
26

10 1.38 10 23  1.38  300 10

300 29

hc
hc
N
The Boltzmann relation N2   N 2  ekT
N1ekT
1

N2
 e48 = 1.425×10-21
N1
 2

2. Find the ratio of the population densities of two energy levels in a medium under
thermal equilibrium, if the wavelength of light emitted at 291 K is 6928 Å.
(DEC-2016/JAN-2017)

Given: λ = 6928×10-10 m & T = 291 K. N2

 ?
N1

hc
 6.63 10 34  3108 6.63  310 26
  1 6 107 71.5
kT 6928 10 1.38 10 
10 23 6928 1.38  291 10
33 7.15 0 
291

hc
hc
N
The Boltzmann relation N2   N 2  ekT
N1ekT
1

N2
or
N1  e71.5

N2
= 8.87×10-32
N1
 3

3. The ratio of the population of upper to lower energy levels is 8.83 ×10-31. Find
the wavelength of light emitted by spontaneous emission at 300 K.

Data: N2
= 8.83 ×10-31 & T = 300 K. λ= ?
N1

hc 4.8 10  hc  0.014413 

Consider   
 kT 0.014413
5
 k 
  
300 N hc
hc

The Boltzmann relation N2   N 2  ekT

N1ekT
1

N2  hc
ln ( )
N1 kT

ln ( 8.83
 4.8 10 5
10 31
)  or


 69.2   4.8 10 5



4.8 105
 69.2

λ = 0.06936×10-5 m

λ = 693.6×10-9 m

λ = 693.6 nm
 4

4. The ratio of the population of two energy levels is 1.059 ×10-30. Find the
wavelength of light emitted at 330 K.
(DEC-2019/JAN-2020, JUNE/JULY-2016, DEC-2015/JAN-2016, .. )

Data: N2
= 1.059 ×10-30 & T = 330 K. λ= ?
N1

hc 4.37 10  hc 
Consider    0.014413
 
 kT 0.014413
5

  k 

330
hc hc
N
The Boltzmann relation N2   N 2  ekT
N1ekT
1

N2  hc
ln ( )
N1 kT

ln (1.059
 4.37 10 5
10 30
)  or


 69.02  4.37 10 5




4.37 10 5
 69.02

λ = 0.0633×10-5 m

λ = 633×10-9 m

λ = 633 nm
 5

5. How many photons of yellow light of wavelength 5500 Å constitute 1.5 J of

energy? (JUN/JUL- 2022)

Here, λ = 5500×10-10 m & E = 1.5 J.

N=?

Total energy = Total number of photons ×Energy of each photon

hc
i.e., E = N

E
⸫ N
hc

1.5  5500 10 10

N = 6.63 10 34  3108

1.5  5500 10 10

N = 6.63  310 26

N = 415×1016

N = 4.15×1018 photons
 6

6. The average output power of laser source emitting beam of wavelength 632.8
nm is 5 mW. Find the number of photons emitted per second by the laser source.
(DEC-2023/JAN-2024,JAN/FEB- 2023, JUN/JUL-2019, DEC-2014/ JAN-2015, ..)
Data: λ = 632.8×10-9 m, P = 5×10-3 W & t = 1s.

N=?

hc
Total energy = Number of photons emitted ×Energy of each photon i.e., E = N


Also, Total energy emitted = Power × time i.e., E = Pt

hc
⸫N = Pt or


Pt
N = hc

632.8109  5103 1
N= 6.63 1034  3108

632.8  5 10 12

N = 6.63  310 26 .

N = 159×1014

N = 1.59×1016 photons per second

 7

7. A pulse from a laser with power 1 mW lasts for 10 ns. If the number of photons
emitted per pulse is 3.491×107, calculate the wavelength of the laser.
(FEB/MAR- 2022)

Data: P = 10-3 W, t = 10×10-9 s = 10-8s & N = 3.491×107 photons.

λ= ?

N Nh
Pt= or λ=
hc c
Pt

3.491 107  6.63 10 34  3108

λ= 10 3 10 8
19
10 
λ = 3.491×6.63×3×
10 11

λ = 69.43×10-8 m

λ = 6943×10-10 m

λ = 6943 Å
 8

8. A 5 W pulsed laser emits light of wavelength 694 nm. If the duration of each
pulse is 20 ns, calculate the number of photons emitted per pulse.
(JUN/JUL- 2015)

Data: P = 5W, λ = 694×10-9m & t = 20×10-9 s.

N=?

Pt
N = hc

9
694 109  5  20 10
N=
6.63 1034  3108

694  5  20 10 18

N= 6.63  310 26

N = 3489×108

N = 3.49×1011 photons per pulse

 9

9. A laser operating at 632.8 nm emits pulse 3.182×1016 photons per second.

Calculate the output power of the laser. If the input power is 100 watt, find the
percentage of power converted into coherent light energy. (Model QP- 2018)
Data: λ = 632.8×10-9 m, N = 3.182×1016 , Pin = 100W & t = 1.
Pout = ? & Efficiency = ?

N Nhc Nhc
Pt= ⸫P Or Pout =
hc t t
=

Pout = 3.182 10  6.63 10  3108

16 34

632.8 10 1
9

P = 3.182  6.63  3 × 10 10

out
632.8 109

Pout = 0.1×10-1

Pout = 0.01W

Efficiency Pout 0.01

  0.0001  0.01 %
Pin 100
 10

10. Calculate the wavelength of the light emitted by a gallium arsenide laser, given
the energy gap of the semiconductor as 1.42 eV.

Given: Eg = 1.42 eV = 1.42×1.6×10-19 J = 2.27×10-19 J

λ=?

Energy of the photon emitted = Energy gap of the semiconductor

hc
 = Eg
hc
⸫λ =
Eg

6.63 10 34  3108

λ= 2.27 10 19

6.63  3 10 26

λ = 2.27 10 19

λ = 8.76×10-7 m

λ = 876×10-9 m

λ = 876 nm
 11

11. Calculate the wavelength of the light emitted by the alloy GaAsP
semiconductor laser, with energy gap 1.98 eV.

Given: Eg = 1.98 eV = 1.98×1.6×10-19 J = 3.17×10-19 J

λ=?

Energy of the photon emitted = Energy gap of the semiconductor

hc
 = Eg
hc
⸫λ =
Eg

6.63 10 34  3108

λ= 2.17 10 19

6.63  3 10 26

λ = 3.17 10 19

λ = 6.27×10-7 m

λ = 627×10-9 m

λ = 627 nm
 12

1.2 Optical Fibers

1. Refractive indices of core and clad are 1.563 and 1.498 respectively, in an
optical fiber. Find the numerical aperture and angle of acceptance.
(DEC-2016/JAN-2017)

Data: n1 = 1.563 & n2 = 1.498

NA = ? & θo = ?

NA = n12  n 22

NA = 1.5632 1.4982  0.45

Angle of acceptance θo = sin-1 (NA)

θo = sin-1 (0.45) = 26.7o

 13

2. An optical fiber has core material with refractive index 1.55 and its cladding
material has a refractive index of 1.5. The light is launched into it in air. Calculate
the numerical aperture, the angle of acceptance and also the fractional index
change. (Civil Stream JUN/JULY-2023)

Given: n1 = 1.55 & n2 = 1.5. NA = ? , θo = ? &  = ?

NA = n12  n 22

NA = 2
1.55 1.52

NA = 0.39

Angle of acceptance θ = sin-1 (NA)

θ = sin-1 (0.39)

θ = 22.9o

Fractional index change   n1  n2

n 1

1.55 1.50
 1.55

Δ = 0.032
 14

3. In an optical fiber, the core glass of refractive index 1.5 is to be cladded with
another glass to ensure internal reflection that will contain light travelling with in
5o about the fiber axis. What is the maximum index of refraction allowed for the
cladding?

Data: n1 = 1.5 & θo = 5o. n2 = ?

NA = sin θo

NA = sin 5o = 0.087

Also, NA = n12  n 22 or

NA2 = n2  n2
1 2

 n 22 = n12 + NA 2 or

n2 = n12  NA2

n2 = 1.52  0.087 2

n2 = 1.503
 15

4. An optical fiber has core refractive index 1.5 and clad refractive index 3% less
than that of the core. Calculate NA, angle of acceptance and internal critical angle.
(Model QP 2018-19)

Data: n1 = 1.5 & n2 = 1.5 3

- 1.5 =1.455
100

NA = ? , θo = ? & θc = ?
NA = n12  n 22

⸫ NA = 1.52 1.4552

NA = 0.37

Angle of acceptance θo = sin-1 (NA)

θo = sin-1 (0.37)

θo = 21.7o

Further, n1 sin θc = n2 sin 90o , where θc is the critical angle.

n2
⸫sin θc = or
n1

1  n2 
θc = sin n 
 1

1.455 
θ = sin 1  
c
 1.5 

θc = 75.9o
 16

5. The angle of acceptance of an optical fiber is 30o when kept in air. Find the
angle of acceptance when it is in a medium of refractive index 1.33.
(JUNE/JULY-2023, CS Stream JAN/FEB-2023, DEC-2017/JAN-2018, ..)

Data: θo = 30o & no = 1.33 = 4/3.

θo (medium) = ?

NA (air) = n12  n22

n12  n 22 & NA (medium) =
no

⸫ NA (medium) NA(air) sin o


= no no

1
NA (medium) = sin 30 o 3
=
4 = 24 0.375

3 3 8

⸫ Angle of acceptance in the medium = sin-1 (0.375) = 22o

 17

6. The sum of refractive indices of core and cladding in a step index optical fiber is
3.12 and their difference is 0.08. Calculate the angle of acceptance.

Given: n1 + n2 = 3.12 & n1 - n2 = 0.08.

θo = ?

n1 + n2 = 3.12

n1 - n2 = 0.08.

⸫2n1 = 3.2 or n1 = 1.6

& n2 = n1 - 0.08 = 1.6 - 0.08 = 1.52

NA = n12  n 22

NA = 2
1.6 1.522  0.5

Angle of acceptance θo = sin-1 (NA)

θo = sin-1 (0.5)

θo = 30o
 18

7. In an optical fiber of length 600 m, a signal of input power 120 mW emerges

out with power 90 mW. Find the attenuation in the fiber. (JAN-2013)

Data: L = 0.6 km, Pin = 120×10-3W & Pout = 90×10-3W. α=?

10 Pout
Attenuation coefficient α = log dB / km
L Pin

10 90 10
α=
3
log
0.6 120 103

α = 16.7 log 0.75  16.75 (0.125)

α = 2.08 dB km-1.

8. An optical signal propagating in a fiber retains 85% of input power after

travelling a distance of 500 m in the fiber. Calculate the attenuation coefficient.
(Model QP, 2015-16)

Data: L = 0.5 km & Pout 85  0.85 .


α=?
Pin 100

10 Pout
Attenuation coefficient α = log dB / km
L Pin

10
α= log 0.85
0.5

α =  20  (0.071)

α = 1.42 dB km-1.
 19

9. Find the attenuation in an optical fiber of length 500m, when a light signal of
power 100 mW emerges out of the fiber with a power of 90 mW.
(CSE Stream DEC-2023/JAN-2024, ..)

Data: L = 0.5km, Pin = 100×10-3W & Pout = 90×10-3W. α=?

10 Pout
Attenuation coefficient α = log dB / km
L Pin

10
α = 0.5 log 90 10 3
3

120 10

α =  20 log 0.9  20 (0.046)

α = 0.915 dB km-1.

10. The attenuation in an optical fiber is 3.6 dB/km. What fraction of its initial
intensity remains after 3 km? (DEC-2014/JAN-2015)

Data: α = 3.6 dB/km & L = 3 km. Pout

Pin  ?
10 Pout
α= log dB / km
L Pin

10 Pout
3.6 = log
3 Pin

-1.08 = P
log Pout
in


Pout = antilog (-1.08) = 0.083 = 8.3%
Pin
 20

11. The attenuation of light in an optical fiber is 2.2 dB/km. What fraction of its
initial intensity remains after 2 km?
(DEC-2023/JAN-2024, DEC-2014/JAN-2015, .. )

Data: α = 2.2 dB/km & L = 2 km. Pout

Pin  ?
10 Pout
α= log dB / km
L Pin

10 Pout
2.2 = log
2 Pin

-0.44 = P
log Pout
in


Pout = antilog (-0.44) = 0.363 = 36.3%
Pin