Signal attenuation

Question 1

What is scattering?

Answer 1

~ the momentary absorption of light by electrical charges

~ followed by a secondary emission at the incident light wavelength, but in differing directions

Question 2

What cause refractive index fluctuations in fiber materials?

Answer 2

~inhomogeneities in the material density or chemical makeup

Question 3

What is the result of refractive index fluctuations in materials?

Answer 3

~ the scale of these fluctuations is small compared to the wavelength of propogating light

~ results in Rayleigh scattering

Question 4

What does the optical attenuation from Rayleigh scattering vary with?

Answer 4

~ the fourth power of the wavelength