Fibre optic cables: its origins, working and different functions

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

During COVID-19 pandemic, optical fibre highlighted the crucial role of the internet in maintaining global connectivity, facilitated largely by high-speed internet connections.
These connections, enabling video chats, online payments, and virtual meetings, largely depend on the technology of optical fibers.

About Optical Fibers

Size and Composition: Optical fibers are thin strands of glass, almost as thin as a human hair, used for transmitting information.
Information Transmission: They carry various forms of data, including text, images, and videos, at speeds close to that of light.
Everyday Relevance: Optical fibers play a vital role in everyday communications like text messaging and phone calls.
Fragility vs. Strength: Despite their thinness, these fibers are strong and durable when encased in protective materials.
Versatility: They are flexible enough to be laid underground, underwater, or wound around spools.

Genesis of optical fibre

Charles Kao’s Contribution: About 60 years ago, physicist Charles Kao proposed using glass fibers for telecommunications, a suggestion that earned him a Nobel Prize in 2009.
Replacing Copper Wires: Kao’s idea was initially met with skepticism but eventually replaced copper wires in telecommunication.

Optical Fibers Working?

Light as an Electromagnetic Wave: Light, part of the electromagnetic spectrum, can be controlled and guided through optical fibers.
Total Internal Reflection: This phenomenon allows light to travel long distances within the fiber with minimal loss of power.
Fiber Optic Communication System: This system includes a transmitter, the optical fiber, and a receiver to encode, carry, and reproduce information.

Data Transmission and Resistance

High Data-Transmission Rate: Optical fibers can transmit data at rates of several terabits per second.
Insensitivity to External Disturbances: Unlike copper cables, they are not affected by external factors like lightning or bad weather.

Development of Fiber Optic Cables

Early Experiments: The concept of guiding light in transparent media dates back to the 19th century, with demonstrations by Jean-Daniel Colladon and others.
Medical and Defense Applications: Early glass objects were used in medicine and defense before their adaptation for data transmission.
Advancements in the 20th Century: Significant progress occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, including the development of glass-clad fibers and the invention of lasers.

Present day Manufacturing

Loss Reduction: Modern optical fibers have significantly reduced signal loss, less than 0.2 dB/km.
Fiber-Optic Cable Production: Today, glass fibers are produced using the fiber-drawing technique, ensuring high purity and engineered refractive index profiles.

Prospects of Fiber Optics

Quantum Optics and Communication: The technology stands at the forefront of a new era, with expanding possibilities in quantum optics and home connectivity.
Expanding Applications: Fiber optics technology is now integral to various fields, including telecommunication, medical science, and laser technology.
India’s National Mission: The Indian government’s 2020 Union Budget announced a significant investment in quantum technologies and applications, highlighting the future potential of fiber optics.