Unraveling Fiber Optic Cables

Unraveling Fiber Optic Cables

Fiber optic cables are composed of a single, hair-fine filament that is drawn from molten silica glass. They are loved by many people as they transmit information at ultra-high speeds. The fiber is composed primarily of silicon dioxide but in most cases, other chemicals are involved. Phosphorus oxychloride and germanium tetrachloride areused to produce outer shells and core fibers.

Design of the fiber optic cable

Many individual fibers are bound together around a high-strength or central steel cable plastic carrier that you use to carry the cable and also provide support. The core of the fiber is covered with a number of protective materials such as Kevlar, polyethylene, and aluminum. Since the core and the cladding are made from differing materials, the light travels at different speeds.

As the light wave traveling in the fiber reaches the boundary between the cladding and core, it bends back into the core. The bouncing and bending of the light causes it to travel fast thus light and information are transmitted fast. There are usually two types of optic fibers: single and multi-mode fibers. The single mode fiber features a small core (about 10 micrometers) and a cladding of 100 micrometers in diameter. Since the cable is small, it carries only one light wave over a long distance. Bundles of the single-mode fibers are heavily used in undersea cables and long distance telephone lines.

Multimode optic fibers have a large core (50 micrometers) and a cladding diameter of 125 micrometers. Due to this, it can carry hundreds of separate light waves over short distances. This fiber is often used in urban systems that require many signals to be carried to the central switching stations where they are then distributed.

Other applications of fiber optics

In addition to using the fibers in transmitting information, they are also used in other applications. One of the applications is in the lensing technology where the fibers make it possible for people to manufacture a wide range of lens shapes from the optical fiber.

The optic fibers are also applied in the endcap technology. The energy density at the output end of the fiber laser can sometimes be high but when you use an endcap, the energy diverges in a controlled manner.

Conclusion

This is what you need to know about fiber optic cables. When buying them for any of your applications, ensure that you buy the highest quality.

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