Fiber Optics In Data Transmission
Fiber optics deals with the transmission of information by passing light through flexible optical fibers. Electrical impulses are converted into light which is then transmitted through the optical cable. The light signal is then reconverted into electrical impulses at its destination.
The optical fibers are strands of optically pure glass as thin as hair. They are usually arranged in bundles known as optical cables which are used to transmit the light signals. The fibers allow signals to travel through them with minimum loss and no electromagnetic interference. This makes it the ideal mode for transmitting information over long distances and at higher bandwidths.
An optical fiber is made up of the following parts.
1. The core – It is a thin glass at the center of the fiber where light travels through.
2. Cladding – The optical material covering that prevents the light from leaving the core.
3. Buffer coating – It is the plastic coating that protects the fibers from damage and moisture.
The bundles are usually covered with a jacket.
There are two types of fibers. The first one is the Multi-mode fiber. It has a larger core diameter (2.5*10-3inches) and transmits infrared light, of wavelengths 850nanometers to 1300nanometers, from light emitting diodes. The other type is the single-mode fiber. Its core diameter is 3.5*10-4inches and transmits infrared light of wavelength 1300 to 1550 nanometer.
Light in the cable travels within the core by constantly bouncing from the cladding through a principle known as total internal refraction. The light wave travels greater distances since the light does not get absorbed rather its reflected back into the core through the principle named above.
Some of the signals however, end up degrading. This depends on the impurities present in the glass and wavelength of the transmitted light. Light of wavelength 850nanometers experiences 60 to 65%/kilometer degradation while a wavelength of 1300nanometers experiences 55 to 60%/kilometer degradation and wavelength of 1550nanometers experiences less than 45%/kilometer degradation. Some high quality cables show very little signal degradation, not more than 8%/kilometer at 1550nanometers.
In order to communicate using this system we need a fiber optics relay system which consists of the following.
1. A Transmitter – It produces light signals in a specific code and is usually placed next to the optical cable. It produces light of wavelengths 850nanometers, 1300nanometers and 1550nanometers.
2. Optical cable – Conducts light signals over a distance.
3. Optical regenerator – Usually needed to boost signals that are transmitted over a very long distance. It consists of fibers that have been doped. The doped portion is fed with laser. When the degrading signals reach the doped area the molecules in that area emit another stronger signal which resembles the degraded light signal.
4. Optical receiver – It receives the digital light signals, decodes them into the corresponding electrical signal which are then send to the required machine.
There are several advantages that come with using optical cables.
1. It is less expensive.
2. Has a higher carrying capacity.
3. Has less signal degradation.
4. Can transmit digital signals.
5. It is lightweight.
6. Requires low power to transmit signals.
All in all fiber optics is currently the best mode of non-wireless data transmission especially in this digital age
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