optical fiber

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optical fiber

A technician carefully inspects a glowing optical fiber.

Definition

Noun: A very thin, flexible strand of glass or transparent plastic that transmits light along its length. It functions as a waveguide, using total internal reflection to carry light signals over long distances with minimal loss. These fibers are often used in bundles to transmit images or data.

Usage
  • Singular form: Refers to a single strand.
    • The core of an optical fiber is typically only a few micrometers in diameter.
  • Plural form / Non-count usage: Often used to refer to the material or technology in general.
    • The new internet infrastructure is based on optical fiber.
    • The cables contain dozens of optical fibers.
Examples
  • Telecommunications: "Modern high-speed internet connections rely on optical fiber to transmit data."
  • Medical Imaging: "Doctors use bundles of optical fibers in endoscopes to see inside the human body."
  • General Statement: "The signal travels through the optical fiber at nearly the speed of light."
Advanced Usage
  • Technical Context: In physics and engineering, the term specifies the medium for guided light waves.
    • The pulse dispersion in the optical fiber was measured experimentally.
  • As a Modifier: Used adjectivally to describe related components or systems (e.g., optical fiber cable, optical fiber network, optical fiber technology).
Variants and Related Words
  • Fiber optic (adj): The adjectival form used to describe technology or cables that use optical fibers.
    • We installed a fiber optic cable to the building.
  • Light guide: A more general synonym for any device that channels light, which can include optical fibers.
  • Glass fiber: A broader term that can refer to fibers for insulation or reinforcement, not necessarily for light transmission.
Synonyms
  • Light pipe (informal/technical)
  • Waveguide (broader technical term for any structure that guides waves)
Related Phrases / Compounds
  • Optical fiber cable: A protective casing containing one or more optical fibers.
  • Optical fiber bundle: A collection of many optical fibers, often used for image transmission.
  • Fiber-optic communication: The method of transmitting information using light pulses through optical fibers.
optical fiber

A technician carefully inspects a glowing optical fiber.

Noun
  1. a very thin fiber made of glass that functions as a waveguide for light; used in bundles to transmit images

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