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Optical fibres are thin strands made of pure glass that are primarily used in the transmission of information in light form. These fibres were introduced in the market almost four decades ago, and have since replaced the traditional metallic wires, revolutionizing the entire world of telecommunication. Here, we will discuss the wide range of uses of optical fibres in day-to-day lives, telecommunication, and other fields.
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Key Takeaways: Optical Fibres, Medical Industry, Communication, Defence, Industries, Broadcasting, Lightening and Decorations, Mechanical Inspections
What is Optical Fibre?
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An optical fiber is a flexible and transparent fiber made of silica or plastic. It has a diameter slightly thicker than that of human hair. An optical fiber includes a core surrounded by a transparent cladding material with a lower index of refraction. The applications of these optical fibers have proved to be far more beneficial than the traditional use of metallic wires.
The applications of optical fiber are listed below:
- Medical industry
- Communication
- Defense
- Industries
- Broadcasting
- Lighting and decorations
- Mechanical inspections
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Use of Optical Fibres in Medical Industry:
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Optical fibres are very thin and flexible and hence used as lasers during surgeries, endoscopy, microscopy, and biomedical research, to view internal organs by inserting them into hollow spaces in the body. For example, in micro-surgeries, a tiny bright light is used for lighting up the area of the body in which the surgery is to be performed.
Use of Optical Fibres in Communication:
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Optical fibres contribute greatly to the telecommunication system, by transmitting and receiving information. They help in increasing the speed and accuracy of the transmitted data. Because of their light and flexible nature and their higher data transmission capacity, and because infrared light propagates through the fiber with much lower attenuation, optic fiber cables have replaced copper wires. This technology is widely used in making internet cables.
Calling within or outside the nation has become much easy with the application of optical fibre. This helps us connect quickly and enjoy clear conversations without any sort of interruptions or time lag.
Use of Optical Fibres in Defense:
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Optic fiber cables are used in wirings for aircraft, hydrophones for SONAR, and Seismic applications for data transmission in high-level data security fields of military and aerospace applications.
Use of Optical Fibres in Industries:
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Optical fibres are used for imaging in remotely accessible areas, for example, as safety measures and lighting in automobiles. They are also used in airbags, traction control, and for research and testing purposes in industries, because of their ability to transmit information at immense speed.
Use of Optical Fibres in Broadcasting:
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Optical fibres are cheaper as compared to copper wires, and are hence preferred by broadcasting companies for wiring HDTV, CATV, video-on-demand, etc. They are used for the transmission of high-definition television signals characterized by greater bandwidth and speed.
Use of Optical Fibres in Lightening and Decorations:
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Optical fibres are a convenient and lucrative option to illuminate areas and are hence used in decorations such as buildings and Christmas trees. They also provide an attractive and economical solution to various types of lighting projects. This is the reason why the application of fibre optics has escalated in the field of illumination and decoration.
Use of Optical Fibres in Mechanical Inspections
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Optical fibers are used by on-site inspection engineers to detect damages and faults at remotely accessible places, and by plumbers for inspection of sewers, drains, and pipes. Optical fiber cable is an economical way to detect damage compared to expensive specialized tools.
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Things to Remember
- Fiber optic cables emit less heat than electric cables, hence reducing the chances of a fire in places they are used.
- Fiber optic cables are environmental- friendly. They keep energy consumption to a minimum and hence leave a smaller carbon footprint on the environment.
- Fiber optic cables are not affected by water, wind, ice, or extreme heat as they transmit light instead of electricity. Thus they do not degrade over time like wire cables.
- It is used as lasers during the surgeries, endoscopy, microscopy, and biomedical research.
- Optical fibres contribute greatly to the telecommunication system, by transmitting and receiving information.
- It is also used for data transmission in high-level data security fields of the military.
- Optical fibres are lighter, flexible, and carry more data compared to copper wires.
Sample Questions
Ques- What is meant by optical fibre? (2 marks)
Ans- An optical fiber is a flexible and transparent fiber made of silica or plastic. It has a diameter slightly thicker than that of human hair. An optical fiber includes a core surrounded by a transparent cladding material with a lower index of refraction. The applications of these optical fibers have proved to be far more beneficial than the traditional use of metallic wires.
Ques- What is multimode fiber? (2 marks)
Ans- Multimode fiber is optical fiber that allows light to travel down multiple paths, also referred to as modes. It presents a core diameter which is of 50 to 62.5 microns. Moreover, such fiber can be applied to transmit AV signals in short to intermediate-distance applications, like within a building.
Ques- What is single-mode fiber? (2 marks)
Ans- Single-mode fiber is optical fiber that allows light to travel down a single path known as the fundamental mode which presents a core diameter of 8 to 9 microns. Single-mode fiber can be used to transmit AV signals over extreme distances up to many miles or kilometers.
Ques- How is an AV signal transmitted down a fiber? (3 marks)
Ans- A fiber optic transmitter transforms the AV signal into an optical signal, with the use of a VCSEL or laser diode in the form of a light source. A glass fiber guides the optical AV signal along its path. And a photodetector in a fiber optic receiver at the far end of the fiber transforms the optical AV signal back into an electrical AV signal.
Ques- What wavelengths are used with multimode fiber? (2 marks)
Ans- Multimode fiber is capable of transmitting a wavelength at or around 850 nm, 1300 nm, or 1550 nm. The most common wavelengths are 850 nm and 1300 nm because of the availability of low-cost semiconductor light sources and photodetectors.
Ques- What is the cutoff wavelength for single-mode fiber? (3 marks)
Ans-The cutoff wavelength for single-mode fiber is the minimum wavelength that supports one mode of propagation. Above the cutoff wavelength, single-mode fiber propagates only one mode. Below the cutoff wavelength, single-mode fiber propagates more than one mode, similar to multimode fiber.
Ques- What are the advantages of fiber AV systems in large venues and long-haul transmissions? (3 marks)
Ans- Optical fiber is low-loss compared to electrical wire and can transmit a signal over very long distances without the need of a repeater. For long distances, optical transmission is much less in terms of cost compared to electrical transmission.
Ques- What are the advantages of fiber optic AV systems in hazardous environments? (3 marks)
Ans- There are often explosive or flammable vapors or gases in hazardous environments. There is generally a spark when a copper wire which is carrying an electrical signal breaks, and this can erupt vapors in such an environment. As the fiber optic cables are much lighter, therefore they do not spark even if they are broken. Due to this reason, fiber optic cable is often used in hazardous environments.
Ques- How can optical fibre be used in industries and broadcasting? (4 marks)
Ans- In industries: Optical fibres are used for imaging in remotely accessible areas, for example, as safety measures and lighting in automobiles. They are also used in airbags, traction control, and for research and testing purposes in industries, because of their ability to transmit information at immense speed.
Broadcasting: Optical fibres are cheaper as compared to copper wires, and are hence preferred by broadcasting companies for wiring HDTV, CATV, video-on-demand, etc. They are used for the transmission of high-definition television signals characterized by greater bandwidth and speed.
Ques- An optical fiber is used to transmit a light signal over a long distance without the loss of energy. Explain why? (4 marks)
Ans- An optical fiber is used to transmit a light signal over a long distance as such fibres are made up of materials of different refractive indices wherein the core is of a higher refractive index than the cladding. The light gets refracted at the boundary of core-cladding when light is incident on the core. Thus, a part of the light gets refracted outside depending on the angle and the major chunk gets internally reflected completely. Therefore, the cumulative effect over large distances is that there occurs a loss of light energy due to the refraction through the cladding.
Ques- Write the application of optical fibres in defense and mechanical inspections? (4 marks)
Ans- In defense: Optic fiber cables are used in wirings for aircraft, hydrophones for SONAR, and Seismic applications for data transmission in high-level data security fields of military and aerospace applications.
In mechanical inspection: Optical fibers are used by on-site inspection engineers to detect damages and faults at remotely accessible places, and by plumbers for inspection of sewers, drains, and pipes. Optical fiber cable is an economical way to detect damage compared to expensive specialized tools.
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