INTRODUCTION TO OPTICAL COMMUNICATION
INTRODUCTION TO OPTICAL FIBERS Introduction Fiber-optic communication is a method of transmitting information from one place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical fiber. The light forms an electromagnetic carrier wave that is modulated to carry information. Fiber is preferred over electrical cabling when high bandwidth, long distance, or immunity to electromagnetic interference are required. This type of communication can transmit voice, video, and telemetry through local area networks, computer networks, or across long distances. Optical fiber is used by many telecommunications companies to transmit telephone signals, Internet communication, and cable television signals. Researchers at Bell Labs have reached internet speeds of over 100 peta bit ×kilometer per second using fiber-optic communication. The process of communicating using fiber-optics involves the following basic steps: 1. creating the optical signal involving the use of a tra...