glass fiber
Noun: 1. A very thin fiber made of glass that functions as a waveguide for light; used in bundles to transmit images: A single, extremely fine strand of glass, engineered to transmit light along its length through internal reflection. These fibers are often grouped together in bundles for specific applications.
The term glass fiber refers to the individual strand itself. It is a fundamental component in technologies that rely on the transmission of light or visual information. * Glass fiber is the core material in modern telecommunications cables. * The endoscope uses a bundle of glass fibers to relay an image from inside the body. * A single glass fiber can carry a vast amount of data in the form of light pulses.
- As a material component: Glass fiber is often discussed in the context of its optical and physical properties, such as its refractive index, diameter, and tensile strength, which are critical for its function as a waveguide.
- The purity of the glass fiber is essential to minimize signal loss.
- Optical fiber (noun): A more common technical synonym, often used interchangeably with glass fiber, especially in the context of data transmission. It emphasizes the function (transmitting light) rather than the material.
- Fiber optic cable (noun): A cable containing one or more glass fibers, along with protective layers and strength members.
- Fiber optics (noun): The branch of technology and science concerned with the transmission of data, light, or images through glass fibers.
- Optical fiber
- Light guide (in specific technical contexts)
The term glass fiber can have a broader meaning in other contexts (e.g., referring to fibers used for insulation or reinforcement in composite materials like fiberglass). However, based on the provided reference definition, this entry focuses exclusively on its meaning as a waveguide for light used in image or data transmission.
- a very thin fiber made of glass that functions as a waveguide for light; used in bundles to transmit images