Fiber optics, or optical fiber, is a technology that transmits information as light pulses along a glass or plastic fiber. It is a flexible glass or plastic fiber that can transmit light from one end to the other. The fiber consists of a core surrounded by a cladding layer, both of which are made of dielectric materials. The refractive index of the core must be greater than that of the cladding layer to confine the optical signal in the core. Fiber optics is used for long-distance and high-performance data networking, as well as in telecommunication services such as internet, television, and telephones. It is also used in imaging optics, such as in endoscopes used for minimally invasive exploratory or surgical procedures. Industrial endoscopes are used for inspecting anything hard to reach, such as jet engine interiors. Some key features of fiber optics include:
- High bandwidth: Fiber optics can transmit data over long distances and at very high speeds.
- Electromagnetic immunity: Fiber optics are not affected by electromagnetic interference, such as lightning, that can reduce the speed of transmission.
- Low signal loss: Fiber optics have low signal loss, meaning that the signal can travel long distances without significant degradation.
Fiber optics transmit data in the form of light particles, or photons, that pulse through a fiber optic cable. The glass fiber core and the cladding each have a different refractive index that bends incoming light at a certain angle. At the transmitting source, the light signals are encoded with data, and the same data is decoded at the receiving end. Fiber optics is a transmission medium that carries signals over long distances at very high speeds.
