Fiber Optics

by Glenn Agusitn
Introduction
Fiber Optics is the branch of optics dealing with the transmission of light
through fibers. These fibers, usually made of glass, have a high refractive
index. This allows the light to be transfered from one end to the other even if
the fibre is curved or bent. This cable is made to guide a laser. Light
operates at a higher freuency that electricity so it has a greater capacity for
retaining information.
Principles
The fiber consists of a core and cladding and is usually of a cylindrical shape
and is half the diameter of a human hair. !n order for the cable be able to
transport the light the cladding must have a higher !ndex of "efraction than
the core. This is so the light will bounce at the point where they meet, bac#
to the center of the core. $hen the light enters the core it will bounce at an
angle of incidence greater than the critical angle.
At one end the light is sent with a signal through a process called modulation.
At the other end the signal is demodulated, amplified and transfered bac#
to an electrical signal. The light is usually a laser or a L%&, light'emitting
diode. !n reality th e commonly called L%& is an !"%&, ifrared emitting diode.
The laser can be modulated faster and can transmit more light then L%&(s but
the L%&(s are cheaper, last longer and are less sensitive to temperature.
Generally spea#ing lasers are used for long d istances and L%&(s are for
urban use.
Disadvantages
!nitally, the draw bac# of fiber optics was the attenuation of the light.
%xtensive research has solved this problem. The solution was to use a pure
silicon. !t is suprior over copper wires when used over long distance. )igna l
repeaters to help regenerate the signal are only reuired about every *++
#m as compared to every *., #m for electrical based systems. %ven stronger
amplifiers are being develped to ma#e this distance even farther. Through
science this problem has been aliviated.
There are two #inds of fiber optic cable, the graded index and the step index.
The step index has an abrupt change in the index of refraction between
the core and cladding. The graded index has a smooth change in the
densities of the two materials. $ith the step index, when a pulse of light enters
the
cable only beams with an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle
will be reflected bac# to the core. -eams hit the core at different angles so
those angles larger than others will travel faster than smaller angles. This is
called dispersion limited. This limits the amount of information and band
width that can be transmitted. The graded index can help smooth this out.
.onsidering that fiber optics can send information so much faster than
copper wires this this is an acceptable problem.
The most significant disadvantage to fiber optics is in repairing them. The two
bro#en pieces must be aligned with great precsion. )ince the fiber optic
cable is so strong this isn(t a reoccuring problem.
Advantages
Their information capacity is also much greater than copper wires because
they operation at a higher freuency. To put this in prespective telephone
conversations occur at about /+++ hert0, television signals have a band width
of about 1 million hert0 and optical fiber has a capablity surpassing *
billion, #eep in mind this was ta#en from a boo# over a decade old. )ince
they are so thin *,+ of them can fit in a cable the thic#ness of your finger.
This cable can handle ,+ +++ calls, comparativly spea#ing this would reuire
a cable for copper wires to be four and half inches thic#.
Fiber optics are also unaffected by any electrical disturbances. This property
ma#es them ideal for places full of eletrical disturbances or places where
electricity can become a ha0ard.
The cables are also ama0ingly strong. To ma#e the cable colourless it must
consist of pure silicon. The impurities, pits or flaws that ma#es regular glass
fragile are very rare in fiber optics and are limited to one every #ilometer. The
flaws that re main are smaller than a bacterial virus. Anything worse
would be unacceptable. This allows the optical fibers to be twice as strong as
steel with a maximum pulling force of 1++ +++ pounds per suare inch.
Applications
Fiber optics has many uses such as sending light to hard to reach places and
for transmitting images. Their main use any how is for telelcommuncations.
The simplest use for this is in transmiting light. For example in the bore of a
dentists drill. This type of transmission doesn(t reuire the cladding because
the index change between the material and the air is enought to send the
light. !t can also be used for high'power laser beams used for cutting and
drilling.
They can also be used for transmitting images. )everal thousand strands
must be optically polished and put in bundles. )everal bundles have to be
precisely aligned to reproduce and image. A magnifyer on the end ma#es
viewing possible. This can be used for viewing inside animals, laser surgery,
in facsimile systems, and in computer graphics. !f the the bundles are
changed they are capable of inversion, magnificaiton, and scrambling. A
common
use for them was used in endoscopes.
!t can also be used for a variety of sensing devices because the light inside
them is very sensitive to changes in pressure, sound waves, strain, and in
heat and motion. The potential for them is nearly unlimited because of they
are not affected by electrical distubances.
Fiber optics is also used in airplanes. !t can send information from
instruments within the plane cleanly. !t doesn(t pic# up any 2noise2 or create any
either. 3articularly in military 4ets and transports, it allows planes to be less
detectable by outside sensors not releasing any radiation. %ven G5 has
ta#en an interst to this technology. !t doesn(t affect other on board instruments
in the dash board and are easier to repair not needing as many wires.
The reduced wieght can also help G5 into ma#ing the vehicle lighter thus
increasing efficiency.
-ecause of their si0e, efficiency and the fact they aren(t supseptable to
electrical disturbances ma#es them ideal for communications. They are also
good for local area networ#s. %uipment such as computers which are used
over the phone can ta#e advantage of the optic cables capablities. !t can
also accommodate new subscribers easily having such a high information
capablity. The development of new electro'optic and integrated'optic
components can also expand thier use. Fiber optics can also be used in
places where eletrical wires can become a ha0ard such as at an electrical plant.
Conclusion
%ven thought the numbers on fiber optics are tremendous they seem to be a
technological wonder and a luxury. !n actuality it seems that they are
becoming a modern day necessity. $e live in an age where we have
6isiphones, two'hundred channel televisions, computer modems used
constantly,
and a concern that electrical wires cause cancer it(s no longer a wonder why
we are pursuing this technology. .ommunications is needed now more
than it(s ever been needed and with fiber optics the world is becoming a
smaller place.