Optical Fiber Communications CH-1 Quiz

What is a key advantage of optical fibers mentioned in the text?

Based on the text, what is a significant disadvantage of optical fibers?

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an application of optical fibers in the text?

Why are high purity materials required for optical fibers?

What characteristic of optical fibers makes them ideal for military applications?

What is the carrier wave used in optical fiber communications?

How are light pulses typically sent down an optical fiber connection?

What is the typical thickness of an optical fiber cable?

What range of wavelengths is considered optimal for optical fiber transmission?

What is the main advantage of optical fibers related to transmission loss and bandwidth?

What component detects light pulses in an optical fiber connection?

Optical Fiber Communications

Information is sent from one location to another by passing light across an optical fiber, using an electromagnetic carrier wave created by modifying light.

Optical Fiber Communication Link

Consists of a tiny glass cable, thicker than a human hair, enclosed in a plastic sheath and housed in an insulated cable.
Light pulses from a photo diode or laser are sent down the optical fiber connection and detected by a photo receptor.

Transmission Window

Least transmission losses occur in the range from 800 to 1600 nm (optical fiber range).
Absorption and scattering effects that cause fiber attenuation are lower as wavelength increases.

Advantages of Optical Fibers

Low transmission loss and wide bandwidth allow for higher repeater spacing (10-50 km), minimizing cost and enabling more data transmission over long distances.
Small in size and lightweight.
Provides electrical insulation, eliminating ground loops and sparking/arcing.
Immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI) since it's a dielectric.
Abundant raw materials are available (silica in sand).
Offers high signal security due to the difficulty of tapping the fiber.

Disadvantages of Optical Fibers

Difficult to handle due to its small size.
Requires high purity materials.
Adding additional nodes is challenging.

Applications of Optical Fibers

Trunk telephone lines.
Military applications.
Medical applications.
Power stations.
Submarines cables and undersea transmission lines.
Satellites, aircraft, and space ship computer rooms.

Test your knowledge on the agenda presented by Assistant Prof. Mohamed Elmowafy in Chapter 1 of Optical Fiber Communications. Topics include the communication system, optical fiber links, main advantages and disadvantages, and applications of optical fibers.