Characterization of the approach to steady state and the steady-state properties of multimode optical fibers using LED excitation

A simple technique has been developed to characterize the approach to steady state and the steady-state properties of multimode fibers using LED excitation. Results are given for 6 mil Selfoc fibers whose far-field pattern for the steady state is in excellent agreement with a calculation by Marcuse. To first order, the steady-state mode distribution fits a simple model of uniform modal excitation of a fiber with a reduced numerical aperture.