Optical Communications Questions and Answers – Non-Linear Effects

This set of Optical Communications Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Non-Linear Effects”.

1. The nonlinear effects in optical fibers are large.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The nonlinear effect arises from the interactions between light waves and the material transmitting them and thus affects the optical signals. The nonlinear effects are usually small in optical fibers. They have power levels of up to few milliWatts.

2. How many categories of nonlinear effects are seen in optical fibers?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The nonlinear effects are separated on the basis of their characteristics. There are two such categories; one is scattering effect and the other is Kerr effect.

3. Which of the following is not related to Kerr effects?
a) Self-phase modulation
b) Cross-phase modulation
c) Four-wave mixing
d) Stimulated Raman Scattering
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Stimulated Raman Scattering is related to scattering. The other effects include modulation and mixing which are parts of Kerr effect.
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4. Linear scattering effects are _______ in nature.
a) Elastic
b) Non-Elastic
c) Mechanical
d) Electrical
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Linear scattering effects are elastic because the scattered wave frequency is equal to incident wave frequency. Nonlinear scattering effects are purely inelastic.

5. Which thing is more dominant in making a fiber function as a bidirectional optical amplifier?
a) Core material
b) Pump source
c) Cladding material
d) Diameter of fiber
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Brillouin gain is always greater than Raman gain. It exists for light propagation in opposite direction to the pump source. Also Brillouin frequency shifts and gain bandwidth are much smaller than Raman. Raman amplification occurs for light propagating in either direction. Thus, pump source is more important in making a fiber function as bidirectional optical amplifier.

6. _________ semiconductor laser sources generally have broader bandwidths.
a) Injection
b) Pulsed
c) Solid-state
d) Silicon hybrid
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Pulsed semiconductor lasers have broader bandwidths. Therefore, these sources prove to be inefficient pump sources. They prove inefficient especially for narrow gain spectrum.

7. Nonlinear effects which are defined by the intensity – dependent refractive index of the fiber are called as ________
a) Scattering effects
b) Kerr effects
c) Raman effects
d) Tomlinson effects
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Kerr effects are nonlinear effects. Nonlinear effects are divided into scattering and Kerr effects. Scattering effects include scattering of phonon whereas Kerr effects include intensity refractive index parameters.
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8. Self-phase modulation causes modifications to the pulse spectrum.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Kerr effect results in different transmission phase for the peak of the pulse compared with leading and trailing edges. Self-phase modulation can broaden the frequency spectrum of the pulse as the time varying phase creates a time varying frequency.

9. Self-phase modulation can be used for _____________
a) Enhancing the core diameter
b) Wavelength shifting
c) Decreasing the attenuation
d) Reducing the losses in the fiber
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Self phase modulation is related to phase change. It imposes a positive frequency sweep on the pulse which in turn enables wavelength or frequency shifting.
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10. The beating between light at different frequencies or wavelengths in multichannel fiber transmission causes ________
a) Attenuation
b) Amplitude modulation of channels
c) Phase modulation of channels
d) Loss in transmission
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Phase modulation is related to frequency and wavelength shifting. In multichannel fiber transmission, phase modulation causes generation of modulation sidebands at new frequencies. This phenomenon is called as four-wave mixing.

11. What is different in case of cross-phase modulation from self-phase modulation?
a) Overlapping but same pulses
b) Overlapping but distinguishable pulses
c) Non-overlapping and same pulses
d) Non-overlapping but distinguishable pulses
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: In cross phase modulation, variation in intensity of one pulse width modulates the refractive index of the fiber which causes phase modulation of the overlapping phases. In self-phase modulation, this phase modulation broadens the pulse spectrum.

12. When three wave components co-propagate at angular frequency w1, w2, w3, then a new wave is generated at frequency w4, which is given by?
a) w4 = w1 – w2 – w3
b) w4 = w1 + w2 + w3
c) w4 = w1 + w2 – w3
d) w4 = w1 – w2 + w3
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: This type of frequency mixing is called as four-wave mixing. This frequency combination is problematic for multichannel optical communication as they become phase matched if the channel wavelengths are near to zero dispersion wavelengths.

13. _____________ results from a case of nonlinear dispersion compensation in which the nonlinear dispersion compensation in which the nonlinear chirp caused by self-phase modulation balances, postpones, the temporal broadening induced by group velocity delay.
a) Four wave mixing
b) Phase modulation
c) Soliton propagation
d) Raman scattering
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Soliton propagation is a nonlinear dispersion phenomenon. It limits the propagation distance that can be achieved when acting independently. It balances broadening of light pulse.

Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Optical Communications.

To practice all areas of Optical Communications, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.

If you find a mistake in question / option / answer, kindly take a screenshot and email to [email protected]

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Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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