Everything you need to know about fiber optics

The advent of the internet has undoubtedly been one of the most important computing and communication technologies today. It is a recent creation, from the 1990s, when the evolution of speed and accessibility were noticed. Thanks to technologies such as fiber optics, the increase in data transfer capacity has reached high levels of speed. Keep reading this article to learn more about fiber optics.

What is an optical fiber

The optical fiber is a medium for transmitting data by photoelectric pulses through a hile made of transparent glass and plastic materials with the same functionality. Generally, for these very thin cables, a light signal is transferred from one end of the cable to the other. This light can be generated by means of an LED, and its most widespread use is to transport data over long distances. After all, this medium has much greater bandwidth than metal cables and higher transmission speeds. Optical fiber is immune to electromagnetic interference. It is not only used for data transmission over networks, but also for high quality audio connections. Fiber is also a source of illumination to provide visibility in tight spaces

How does this technology work?

It is true that these are cables for which a light signal circulates, but the mode of transmission is not based on the transfer of electrons through a conductive material. Indeed, the optical fiber works through two physical phenomena, reflection and refraction. The reflection occurs when it strikes a surface separating the wave’s change of direction, causing it to take a direction with an angle equal to the incidence. Note that if light shines at a 90-degree angle on a surface, it will bounce in the opposite direction. Which works when you stand in front of a mirror. In another case, if the light shines on a surface at thirty degrees, it will bounce with the same thirty degrees. But during refraction, a change of direction and speed occurs in a wave passing from one medium to another. What is seen when light passes from air to water. At this point, you will see the same image, but from a different angle. With these phenomena, the light is transmitted through the fiber optic cable until it reaches its destination.