The Physics Behind Fiber Optics

A fiber-optic cable is composed of two concentric layers, called the core and the cladding, as illustrated in Figure 3-1.

The core and cladding have different refractive indices, with the core having a refractive index of n1, and the cladding having a refractive index of n2. The index of refraction is a way of measuring the speed of light in a material. Light travels fastest in a vacuum. The actual speed of light in a vacuum is 300,000 kilometers per second, or 186,000 miles per second.

September 3, 2011

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