Fiber optics refers to the science of transmitting data, voice, and images using thin, transparent fibers. These fibers are typically made of glass or plastic. Here are some key points about fiber optics:
Basic Principle:
- Fiber optics work by total internal reflection. Light rays beamed into the fiber can propagate within the core for great distances with remarkably little attenuation (reduction in intensity).
- The core of a typical glass optical fiber has a diameter as small as 10 μm, while the cladding (outer reflecting layer) has a diameter of 125 μm.
- Plastic fibers, made of materials like polymethylmethacrylate or polycarbonate, are cheaper and more flexible than glass fibers but have greater light attenuation, restricting their use to shorter links within buildings or automobiles
Applications:
- Telecommunications: Fiber optic technology has virtually replaced copper wire in long-distance telephone lines. Silica glass fibers can transmit infrared light signals for over 100 km (60 miles) without repeaters.
- Local Area Networks (LANs): Fiber optics link computers within LANs.
- Medical Imaging: Fiberscopes (endoscopes) use fiber optics to examine internal body parts.
- Manufacturing Inspection: Fiber optics are used to inspect the interiors of structural products
Inventors:
- In 1966, electrical engineers Charles Kao and George Hockham suggested using fibers for telecommunication.
- Silica glass fibers were produced with sufficient purity, allowing infrared light signals to travel long distances without signal boosters.
- Charles Kao was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009 for his work on optical fibers
Fiber optics revolutionized communication, enabling faster data transmission and reliable connectivity across vast distances.
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