Optical Fiber : How Optical Fiber Works and Where We Use

Optical Fiber are made of optical fiber connectors with partially pre-assembled cables for transmission of light. When bundled, referred as fiber optic cable. Optical Fiber when bundled also acts to protect and stabilize the individual fibers to mechanically reinforce.

Physical and Optical Properties of Optical Fiber

Physically, Optical Fiber are dielectric waveguide. They are made of concentric layers; in the center is the light-conducting core which is surrounded by a jacket with a slightly lower refractive index and a further protective layers of plastic or similar material is used. Depending on the application of the Optical Fiber, the core has a diameter of several micrometers to more than a millimeter. The optical waveguide varies according to the refractive index of core and also the cladding and several other factors.

Multimode Optical Fiber, have a highly structured beam profile. In single core fiber, which have a very small core diameter, can only direct the intensity in the radial direction.

Optical fiber are used primarily in the communications technology as a transmission medium for wired communication systems because they achieve greater ranges and speeds. Optical fiber are also used for the transfer of energy as a fiber optic cable for flexible transport of laser radiation, for illumination and imaging including microscope illumination. The core of polymer optical fiber (POF) is usually made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

Basic Optical Working Principle of Optical Fiber is total internal reflection.

Usages of Optical Fiber

Optical Fiber cables are used in telecommunications to transmit information over short and long distances at high bandwidth. Cost-effective multi-mode fibers are used in short route.

Other than communication, one of the popular usage of Optical Fiber is for decoration purpose, both for commercial and  amusement purpose. In laparoscopy, the cold light generated in the box effectively illuminates the body cavities and need very little care.