Single Mode Fiber Optics

Fiber optics is the ultimate technology of the world today. This brings about high-speed connection and better data transmission that was otherwise impossible before it was introduced for mass use. Fiber optics technology stated two centuries ago when the idea of letting a light pass through bent water stream was deemed possible. Many ideas had spring forth since then. Scientists had developed their own mechanism in proving that indeed light can be bent using a perfect conduit.

The first to demonstrate the dynamics of the fiber optics that we have today was John Tyndall, a British scientist, before a distinguished audience of the Royal Society. Alexander Graham Bell followed suit with his own version via the photophone. The development of fiber optics that is most prominent is the one done by Dr. C.K. Kao.

Fiber optics has many uses just as there are plenty of types of fiber according to its use. When it comes to light propagation, the single mode and the multi mode fiber optics will come to the spotlight. Fiber optics, because of its higher bandwidth, is considered as the ideal tool in transmitting information. Speaking of higher bandwidth, the single mode fiber optics is the one that has a higher bandwidth as compared to the multi mode fiber optics.

The dynamics behind fiber optics is that the fiber acts as a wave guide where light passes through a path. If a path is traveling to only one fiber path the fiber used is a single mode fiber optics. Single mode fiber optics usually measures 8-10 ìm (micrometer or microns) in diameter. The measurement of the single mode fiber optics is compatible with the near infrared requirement that has lesser attenuation in the glass fiber optics material, which is the silica. Single mode fiber optics can allow light to pass through in a single mode propagation capability. The high performance capability of single mode fiber optics is that it is capable of transmitting data over a longer distance as far as 80-140 km compared to the multi mode fiber optics. However the former is relatively pricier than the latter.

The telecommunications industry is the one that is mostly benefited from the use of single mode fiber because of its supreme data performance. Unlike before where telephone connection uses coaxial copper cable that takes time to send information. Today people can enjoy the fast speed transmission capability of this technology.

The unparalleled performance of fiber optics technology is simply too much to match with other existing technology.