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fibre optics
Fibre optics technology uses strands of glass to transport light over long distances.
A typical fibre will be built up as follows: -a very thin wire (about 9 micrometers) called core. -around this wire a thicker wire (about 125 micrometers) with another refractice index called cladding. -a coating of some sort of 'plastic' which makes the total thickness approximately 250 micrometers.
Other core sizes are also used, as well as plastic fibre.
Due to the difference in refractive index between the core and the cladding light that is inserted in the core will not be able to leave the fibre until it reaches the othes side of the fibre.
By multiplexing the light (= splitting it in different colors, or actually different shades of the same color) it is possible to put multiple signals on one fibre. This way, one single fibre can carry, for example, 25 telephone conversations at the same time, without the risk of the signals mixing.
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fibre optics
Fibre optics technology uses strands of glass to transport light over long distances.
A typical fibre will be built up as follows: -a very thin wire (about 9 micrometers) called core. -around this wire a thicker wire (about 125 micrometers) with another refractice index called cladding. -a coating of some sort of 'plastic' which makes the total thickness approximately 250 micrometers.
Other core sizes are also used, as well as plastic fibre.
Due to the difference in refractive index between the core and the cladding light that is inserted in the core will not be able to leave the fibre until it reaches the othes side of the fibre.
By multiplexing the light (= splitting it in different colors, or actually different shades of the same color) it is possible to put multiple signals on one fibre. This way, one single fibre can carry, for example, 25 telephone conversations at the same time, without the risk of the signals mixing.
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