Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communications, which permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data rates) than other forms of communication.
In telecommunications, optical fiber is used to carry telephonic signals, cable television signals, and Internet transmissions.
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| Figure: Optical Fiber |
Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel along them with lesser amounts of loss; in addition, fibers are immune to electromagnetic interference.
When a light beam enters an optical fiber, it is guided by total internal reflection along the length of the fiber.[10] Thus, the light wave travels through the center or core of the fiber while the cladding around the core prevents it from expanding outward.
The refractive index of the core is chosen so that it is higher than that of the cladding causing total internal reflection to occur at boundaries between the two media.
Properties
- Light-Emitting in varying colors
- Brittle which is why such fibers are encased in steel wire
- Washable
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