Fiber optics has revolutionized internet connectivity, and now users all around the world can enjoy seamless browsing on the internet. A fiber optic cable uses light to transmit information from one end to another.
One end of the fiber optic cable is connected to a laser or LED, and the other end is designed to receive the light transmitted through the cable. The fiber optic cable is made from glass fibers that are placed in a casing that is insulated.
Significance of Optical Fiber
Today, fiber optic cable is essential for fast and extensive data transmission everywhere from workplaces to airports, schools, and hospitals. The fiber optic cable supports faster data transfer and bandwidth over long distances instead of the traditional wired cables.
Fiber optic is vital in today’s world as most of the internet, television, and telecommunications depend on it. The fiber optic cable consists of several glass strands, and each strand is just a bit thicker than a human hair. The term ‘core’ is given to the center of the strand, and it also allows the light to pass.
The core is externally surrounded by a cladding which a layer of glass and cladding causes the light to reflect and refract as it passes through the cable. The two common types of fiber optic cable are single-mode and multi-mode.
The single-mode is composed of very minute glass strands, and a laser is used to transmit light. The single-mode carries a high bandwidth, and the data can be transferred 50 times more distance than the multi-mode.
On the other hand, multi-mode fiber uses a LED to generate light, and it carries low bandwidth and best to transmit data over short distances such as LAN (Local Area Network).
The difference between the single-mode and multi-mode is based on a few factors: light source, wavelength, distance, core diameter, color sheath, and cost.
What is Hollow Core Fiber?
The fiber optic cable works due to internal light reflection and light refraction between the core and the cladding.
A hollow-core fiber is defined as a type of optic fiber that allows light to be passed through a hollow region. In simple words, hollow-core fiber is a technology that enables the transmission of light in the air rather than glass core fiber.
The light is passed through a hollow region so that only a little amount of optical power is propagated in the glass. However, when keeping physics laws in mind, this could not be possible as the core’s refractive index is said to be higher than the cladding.
Also, there is no physical way to attain the refractive index of glass below air or vacuum. There is massive research on hollow-core fibers because experts suggest that an optical fiber with a hollow core can deliver even more speeds than standard fiber optic cables.
Why the need for Hollow Core
The traditional fiber optic cable has transparent glass cores that let the light travel. Modern technology has minimized the loss of signal when transmitting light over long distances, but there is still a need for a more robust mechanism.
The clearest glass fiber registers a loss of 0.142 decibels per kilometer which in a literal sense means that almost 1% of input light remains in the core for every 1000 km. The fiber optic with solid glass fibers is not ideal for more intensive applications and cannot carry high powers.
The research in hollow-core started when the fact surfaced that light travels much faster, nearly 50% in the air than in glass. The hollow-core fiber has widespread use in different segments of the market, such as 5G, and financial transfers.
One way to transmit light over the air or in a hollow-core is by using the photonic bandgap. Photonic bandgap fibers can be used in a certain structure. The emphasis is to design a glass structure that significantly reduces the loss of signals.
Enhancing light into the hollow core is going to be a breakthrough technology when it comes to future digital communications. The conventional glass fibers feature a glass core, and there is no presence of air. The light easily travels within the cable, but the light’s intensity is lost after nearly 15 km. The intensity keeps on decreasing, and at 300 km there is no trace of any light pulse.
The Applications of Hollow Core Fiber
To ensure that light travels at a certain speed, the light pulses have to be intensified after every interval. The optical hollow-core fibers comprise air or gas. Having air present in the core means less attenuation, and light can easily travel over long distances without losing signal strength.
Light travels faster when there is no resistance, but the problem is light is quite hard to amplify in the air. The experts added pressure in the air to provide resistance but in a controlled manner. A sound wave is made that increases the amplitude and bends the light from the light source towards the less amplified beam.
The technique helps attain light pulses that are more intensive, and this method can be applied to any ultraviolet, and infrared light source. The hollow-core fibers or gas optical fibers can be used for other applications such as
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Accurate thermometers
Experts say that it will be easier to measure the temperature at any specific point in the fiber. For example, if there is a fire in a tunnel, then the fiber will detect the exact point where the fire started.
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Temporary optical memory
The light in the optic fiber cable is stopped for microseconds, which is nearly 10 times more than currently possible.
Conclusion
We live in a world where people from all walks of life all around the world use the Internet most of the time during the day and night. Most businesses depend on fast communication with clients and customers.
Fiber optics have been essential in ensuring fast speed internet and connectivity; however, there is an issue of signal losses. The demand for more seamlessness has given way to the design and development of hollow core fiber where light pulses can be sent faster and without any resistance.
