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Fiber Optic Cable
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Optical fiber is a glass or plastic fiber that
carries light along its length. Fiber optics is the overlap of applied
science and engineering concerned with the design and application of optical
fibers. Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communication, which
permits transmission over longer distances and at higher data rates than other
forms of communications. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals
travel along them with less loss, and they are immune to electromagnetic
interference. Optical fibers are also used to form sensors, and in a variety of
other applications. Light is kept in the "core" of the optical fiber by total
internal reflection. This causes the fiber to act as a waveguide. Fibers which
support many propagation paths or transverse modes are called multimode fibers.
Fibers which support only a single mode are called singlemode fibers. Multimode
fibers generally have a large-diameter core, and are used for short-distance
communication links or for applications where high power must be transmitted.
Singlemode fibers are used for most communication links longer than 200 meters.
Joining lengths of optical fiber is more complex than joining electrical wire or
cable. The ends of the fibers must be carefully cleaved, and then spliced
together either mechanically or by fusing them together with an electric arc.
Special connectors are used to make removable connections. |
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