OCAM2 Flashcards
What is the speed of light?
2.9979X10^8m/s
What is equation for frequency?
f = c/lambda
F: Frequency
C: Speed of light
Lambda: wavelength
What is Electro Magnetic Radiation?
EMR consists of waves and particles that both have an electrical and magnetic component. Light is a form of EMR
Define light in terms of optical communications
Light is EMR that occurs in a specific region of the electromagnetic spectrum (optical spectrum). This includes ultraviolet, visible and infrared light. The spectral bands used in optical transmission are located between 850-1675nm
What are the wave properties of light?
1) Has an electrical and magnetic field which have direction and amplitude. These fields are orbited 90-degrees to each other and so light energy is in the form or a lightwave
2) The fields oscillate in amplitude and direction, giving a sine wave shape. The length of one complete cycle gives the wavelength of the light
3) These fields can also be known as polarisation modes
What is a photon?
1) Basic unit of light is a elementary packet called a photon
2) Photons have no mass and travel close to the speed of light
How are a photons created?
When electrons transition from a high energy state to a low energy, the energy released is emitted as photons
What are the particle properties of light?
Photon bundles, although not physical particles exhibit similar characteristics. The classic demonstration of this is the photoelectric effect
What is the photoelectric effect?
When matter emits electrons in response to the absorption of energy from light
What is a decibel?
A decibel is a measurement that expresses the ratio between two power values. We use dB to measure optical loss
What is dBm?
A measure of power referenced to 1mW. We use dBm to measure optical power. 1mW=0dBm
What are the three components used in optical fibre?
1) Core - pure silicon dioxide, providing transmission path for optical signals
2) Cladding - nearly pure silicon dioxide, confining light to the core
3) Buffer - durable resin, protecting core and cladding from moisture and physical damage
What is light propagation?
Propagation is the ability for light to travel over the transmission medium (fibre) by reflecting and maintaining light into the core
What is refraction?
Refraction is the bending of light at the intersection between two dissimilar materials
What is refractive index?
RI is the ratio of the velocity of the speed of light in an optical fibre versus the speed of light in a vacuum
What is reflection?
Reflection is the immediate change in direction of a light ray at the intersection of two different media. In terms of optical fibre, the core must have a higher RI than the cladding for the light to remain in the core
What is Snell’s law?
Snell’s Law states the ratio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction is equivalent to the ratio of phase velocities in the two media
What is the Cone of Acceptance?
Light entering the core must enter within the cone of acceptance to enable propagation down the fibre. If light enters outside of the cone, light is refracted into the cladding. This is specified by Numerical Aperture.
What is NA?
The NA is based on the refractive indices of the core and and cladding material of the fibre