Illustrated Optical Fiber Glossary (F –M)

Mastering a new topic cannot be done without mastering the vocabulary first. Last month in Illustrated Optical Fiber Glossary (A – E) I got you started. This month I will cover F through M in my Illustrated Optical Fiber Glossary.

Fabry-Perot (FP)

Generally refers to any device (e.g., laser diode) that uses mirrors in an internal cavity to produce multiple reflections.

Far-End Crosstalk

The ratio of the optical power going out from a one output port compared to the optical power going out from another output port, nominally isolated from the previous one. Expressed in dB.

Faraday Effect (Magneto-Optic Effect)

A phenomenon that causes some materials to rotate the polarization of light in the presence of a magnetic field parallel to the direction of propagation.

FC/PC

A threaded optical connector that uses a special curved polish on the connector for very low backreflection. Good for single-mode or multimode fiber.

FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)

1) A dual counter-rotating ring local area network. 2) A connector used in a dual counter-rotating ring local area network.

Ferrule

A mechanical fixture, generally a rigid tube, used to confine and align polished or cleaved fiber ends in a connector.

Fiber Fuse

A mechanism whereby the core of a single-mode fiber can be destroyed at high optical power levels (>2 MW/cm²). The reflection from the damage vaporizes the fiber immediately before its destruction. While this new defect remains reflective, part of the signal propagates back toward the transmitter.

Fiber Grating

An optical fiber in which the refractive index of the core varies periodically along its length, scattering light in a way similar to a diffraction grating, and transmitting or reflecting certain wavelengths selectively.

FIT Rate

Number of device failures in one billion device hours.

Four wave mixing (FWM)

A nonlinearity common in DWDM systems where multiple wavelengths mix together to form new wavelengths, called interfering products. Interfering products that fall on the original signal wavelength become mixed with the signal, “mudding” the signal, and causing attenuation. FWM depends on factors as dispersion, effective area, and channel spacing:

Interfering products on either side of the original wavelength can be filtered out. FWM is most prevalent near the zero-dispersion wavelength and at close wavelength spacing.

Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM)

A method of deriving two or more simultaneous, continuous channels from a transmission medium by assigning separate portions of the available frequency spectrum to each of the individual channels.

Fresnel Reflection Loss

Reflection loss at fiber ends due to the difference between glass and air refractive index. The maximum reflection caused by a perpendicular air-glass interface is about 4% or about -14 dB.

Full-Duplex Transmission

Simultaneous transmissions in both directions.

Fused Coupler

A method of making a multimode or single-mode coupler by wrapping fibers together, heating them, and pulling them to form a central unified mass so that light on any input fiber is coupled to all output fibers.

The devices are bidirectional and offer low backreflection. The technique is best suited to single-mode and multimode couplers.

Figure 1.

Fused Fiber

A bundle of fibers fused together so they maintain a fixed alignment with respect to each other in a rigid rod. See Figure 1.

Fusion Splice

A permanent joint of N (?2) fibers made by heating and fusing them together.

Gap Loss

Power loss resulting from the end separation of two aligned fibers.

Gain Slope

The slope of the gain spectrum over a determined range of wavelengths, which corresponds to the slope of least mean square regression line of total signal spectrum peaks. Gain slope is expressed in dB/nm.

Group Index

The velocity of light in a vacuum (c), divided by the group velocity of the mode. Also called group refractive index.

Group Velocity

The velocity with which the envelope of the wave propagates through space.

Hard-Clad Silica Fiber (HCS Fiber)

A type of optical fiber composed of a silica core surrounded by a hard polymer or similar material, which is much stronger than the customary cladding material.

Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC)

A transmission system or cable construction that combines both

fiber optic transmission and copper coax transmission.

HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coax)

A transmission system or cable construction (illustrated) that incorporates both fiber optic transmission components and copper coax transmission components.

In-Line Amplifier

An optical device (such an EDFA) that reinforces the signal in a optical link. This allows pursuing the transmission over distance.

Insertion Loss

Optical power loss that results from a splice or from inserting a device (such as a connector or a coupler) into a previously continuous transmission path.

Insertion Loss = Power entering the device (in dB) – Power exiting the device (in dB)

Inter-channel Isolation (crosstalk)

The ability to prevent undesired coupling from one channel to another.

Interferometer

An instrument that uses the principle of interference of electromagnetic waves for purposes of measurement. Used to measure a variety of physical variables, such as displacement (distance), temperature, pressure, and strain.

Interferometric Intensity Noise (IIN)

Noise generated within optical fiber. This disturbance is caused by the distributed back reflection that is generated by Rayleigh scattering. OTDRs measure this scattering power to deduce the fiber attenuation over distance.

Intermodulation (Mixing)

A fiber nonlinearity mechanism that occurs because the refractive index of glass is power-dependent. Signals hit each other (beat together) and generate interferences at different frequencies. Similar to Four Wave Mixing.

Intersymbol Interference

In a digital transmission system, distortion of the received signal, manifested in the temporal spreading and consequent overlap of individual pulses to the degree that the receiver cannot reliably distinguish between changes of state, i.e., between individual signal elements. At a certain threshold, intersymbol interference will compromise the integrity of the received data. Intersymbol interference may be measured by eye patterns

Intrinsic Loss

Loss due to differences in the fibers being spliced.

Jacket

The outer protective covering of a cable. Also called cable sheath.

Jitter

Small and rapid variations in the timing of a waveform due to noise, changes in component characteristics, supply voltages, imperfect synchronizing circuits, etc. See also DDJ, DCD, and RJ.

Jumper

A short fiber optic cable with connectors on both ends.

kBaud

One thousand symbols of data per second. Equivalent to 1 kb/s for binary signaling.

Kevlar

A very strong, very light, synthetic compound developed by DuPont which is used to strengthen OF.

Keying

Generating signals by the interruption or modulation of a steady signal or carrier.

Large Effective Area Fiber (LEAF)

An optical fiber developed by Corning, designed to have a large area in the core, which carries the light.

Large Core Fiber

Usually, a fiber with a core of 200 µm or more.

Lateral Displacement Loss

The attenuation that results from lateral misalignment between two fibers or between a fiber and an active device.

Launch Fiber

An optical fiber used to couple and suitably redistribute light from an optical source into an optical fiber. Often the launching fiber is used to create an equilibrium mode distribution in a multimode fiber.

Light Piping

Use of optical fibers to illuminate.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A communication link between two or more points within a small geographic area, such as between buildings. Smaller than a metropolitan area network (MAN) or a wide area network (WAN).

Long Wavelength Band (L-Band)

A transmission band for wavelength from 1565 to 1625 nm. Part of third window.

Loose-Tube Buffering

A type of fiber optic cable construction where fibers are contained within an outer protective tube yet can move to some extent.

Loss Budget

An accounting of overall attenuation in a system. See optical link loss budget.

Lossless Compression

1) Reduction of the storage size of digital data by employing one or more appropriate algorithms in such a way that the data can be recovered without losing integrity. 2) Reduction of the amount of data that needs to be transmitted per unit time though an analogous real-time process that does not compromise the ability to completely restore the data.

Lossy Compression

Reduction of the bit-rate for an image signal by using algorithms that achieve a higher compression than lossless compression. Lossy compression presents loss of information and artifacts that can be ignored when comparing to original image. Lossy compression takes advantage of the subtended viewing angle for the intended display, the perceptual characteristics of the human eye, the statistics of image populations, and the objective of the display. 2)  Removal of redundant bits from an image in video technology producing a minor loss of image quality.

Macrobending

All macroscopic deviations of the fiber’s axis from a straight line that will cause light to leak out of the fiber, and consequently signal attenuation. See Figure 2.

Figure 2.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

A network covering an area larger than a LAN. A series of local area networks, usually two or more, that cover a metropolitan area.

Mean Launched Power

The average power for a continuous valid symbol sequence coupled into a fiber.

Mechanical Splice

A technique used to join two fibers permanently using fixtures or materials (unlike thermal fusion).

Microbending

Sharp and microscopic stresses (caused by external factors such as cabling) on a fiber that introduces local discontinuities,  which results in light leaking from the core to the cladding by a process called mode coupling. See Figure 3.

Figure 3.

Minimum Bend Radius

The smallest radius an optical fiber or fiber cable can be bent before increased attenuation or damage occurs.

Mode Coupling

The transfer of energy between modes. In a fiber, mode coupling occurs until equilibrium mode distribution (EMD) is reached.

Modal (Multimode) Dispersion

Dispersion resulting from the different transit lengths of different propagating modes in a multimode optical fiber.

Modal Noise

Signal disturbances that occur whenever the optical power/signal propagates through mode-selective devices. Usually related to laser light sources.

Mode field diameter (MFD)

The section of the fiber through which the majority of the light energy is passing. See Figure 4. It’s larger than the physical diameter of the core. This phenomenon occurs because some of the light energy travels also through the cladding (this light is the evanescent wave). Optical fibers with large MFD are less sensitive to lateral offset during splicing, but present higher loss when bent.

Figure 4.

Mode Scrambler

A device that mixes modes to uniform power distribution.

Mode Stripper

A device that removes cladding modes.

Multiple Reflection Noise (multipath interference)

The fiber optic receiver noise resulting from the interference of delayed signals from two or more reflection points in a fiber optic span.

Multiplexer

A device that combines two or more signals into one output.

Whew! Well I hope that helps get you started. To learn even more about fiber optics read my first article “Introduction to Optical Fibers”.