FibreCalc

FibreCalc is a suite of programs for calculating Optical Fibres parameters
using HotPaw Basic running on a Palm OS PDA


FibreCalc is a basic Optical Fibre parameter calculator

 The current version (1.29) calculates and displays around fifteen key parameters of a weakly-guiding step-index single-mode fibre, from Mode Field Radius to Dispersion, taking into account material dispersion. It also plots the field distribution with respect to the RI profile.
Calculated parameters include
 Input parameters include
 Screen Shot of Calcs
Screen Shot of Graph
  • NA, Delta-N & V-Value
  • Mode Field Radius (four definitions)
  • Neff and Propagation Constant
  • Cutoff and Bend Edge Wavelengths
  • Dispersion
  • Single- or Multi-moded
  • Core diameter
  • Germanium concentration
  • Wavelength
  • Core & Clad RI
Output options include
  • Numerical
  • Graphical
  • Save results to file
  • Save Field Profile to file
Requirements

A Palm OS PDA. It is designed to use colour and has only been tested on colour machines. The calculations take around ten seconds on a m505. It would probably be tedious to run them on anything slower. Has been tested on a Palm M505 and a Sony CLIE NZ90.

HotPaw Basic. Has been tested on version 1.3.1 b0. For HotPaw Basic see http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/hotpaw

Details

Files - The program comprises 13 files that must be placed in the MemoPad and take about 20kb.

Calculations  - The program calculates a large number of parameters for an optical fibre. It assumes the simplest form of singlemode fibre. The scalar wave equation is solved. Weak guidance is assumed. The calculator only works with circular symmetry and step refractive index profiles. Material absorption is ignored. The program is intended to be handy calculator for those who work with fibre and fibre design. It assumes the user is knowledgeable about fibre specifications and design. The user is referred to any standard text such as Snyder and Love. The numerical routines for the Bessel functions are along the lines of Press.

Instructions - An Instruction Manual is provided in RTF format.

Download

Version 1.29 is the first release and the file was available at PalmGear (http://www.palmgear.com) from 2003. However, as I can't find it there in late 2009, it can be downloaded here. This is shareware. If you find it useful I request that you register it for US$5 (contact me at email address below). This program has no warranty and has been produced privately not in relation to my employment.

Version: 1.2 (FCv1.29)
Created: 23/04/03
Revised: 20/12/09
Author: Simon Fleming
Email: simon.c.fleming_at_gmail.com
(replace _at_ with @)