In short, the mode of transmission refers to optic signal transmission from one end of fiber optic cable to another. The mode of transmission depends on the construction, type of glass material, refractive index, cladding efficiency, and the inner diameter of the transmission media that is the glass strand.
There are two fundamental types of fiber optics cables available based on the mode of transmission, namely, single mode and multimode fiber optic cables. These fiber optic cables are often utilized for various applications under different conditions. Therefore, it is essential to know the selection parameters of single mode or multimode optical fiber specific applications. This white paper thoroughly discusses single mode optical fiber, multimode optical fiber, the difference between both, and the selection parameters for specific operations.
The mode is generally defined as the way of optical wave transmission. The optical waves of uniform frequencies, as they enter in the optical fiber are distributed in different paths of transmission. The path followed by each individual optical wave is referred to as mode. The number of modes in a fiber optic cable is calculated by solving the Helmholtz equation for wave.
The modes are the result of the modal dispersion phenomenon taking place inside the fiber optic cable. Note: The modal dispersion is totally irrelevant of the number of glass fiber strands wrapped inside the cladding. Single mode optical fiber is a type of optical fiber designed specifically for single mode light transmission. This means different light waves of different frequencies are transmitted through a single path via this type of optical fiber.
These single mode optical fibers are preferred in the industry by a common acronym SMF. The SMF carries optical signals in a transverse mode. The following characteristics of single mode optical fiber SMF make them unique. Depending on the variation in characteristics, the single mode optical fiber SMF is categorized. Let us discuss the categorization of SMF further. The multimode optical fiber is a type of optical fiber designed for multiple light signal propagation.
The industrial acronym for multimode optical fiber is MMF. In MMF, the modal dispersion takes place according to varying wavelengths of the optical signals.
Therefore, modal dispersion in the MMF is higher. The path of optic wave propagation in the MMF is either zigzag or semi-elliptical in nature, it depends on the refractive index of the glass core material. The following characteristics of Multimode optical fiber MMF make them ideal for certain applications. The multimode optical fiber MMF is mainly categorized into two types based on two factors, namely, a system of classification and refractive index and signal behavior.
Besides the characteristics, the differences between the single mode and multimode optical fiber can be stated in a few different ways. The following are the highlighted differences between single mode and multimode optical fibers. As discussed in earlier sections, it is understood that the manner of optical wave propagation differs according to the modal dispersion and refractive index of the core glass material. This difference in the path of propagation impacts on input and output signal via fiber optic.
Let us discuss the impact of both single mode and multimode optical fiber cable. In the single mode optical fiber, modal and light dispersion is negligible, therefore the light wave transmits in a linear manner. Due to the same, the attenuation is reduced and signal strength remains consistent. Therefore, in SMF, the input signal and output signal are of the same strength over a long distance of transmission.
Also, as multiple optical waves of varying frequencies may transmit via SMF but they all follow the same path, therefore all the data packets reach the output end of the optical fiber. Therefore, the reliability of data transmission from transmitting source device to the receiving device remains assured. In multimode optical fiber cable, the transmission occurs in two ways, let us discuss the effect of both on the input and output signals. Although the single mode optic fiber cable is less than multimode, the entire installed system of SMF is more expensive than the MMF installed system.
The good news is that the cost of SMF is dropping in recent years, and it is redesigning to run with less power, thus advocators of SMF think that it is pretty much the only rational choice for infrastructure cabling and the sure winner for today and tomorrow. There is no doubt that SMF is a better investment in the long run, but MMF still has a long way to go in data center interconnections.
Choosing the right fiber for your network application is a critical decision. Understanding your system requirements in order to select the appropriate fiber will maximize the value and performance of your cabling system. Be sure to select the right cable on the basis of aspects including link length, performance, and of course costs. FS provides a broad range of 40G optical transceivers and fiber patch cables with superior quality and fair price. For more details, please visit www.
Fiber Transceiver Solution. Skip to content. Bookmark the permalink. Share this page Share. Search for:.
0コメント