FIBER ATTENUATION
The maximum transmission distance between a transmitter and a receiver of an
optical fiber is known as the attenuation of the fiber
[16]
. The attenuation is usually
expressed in decibels per unit length (dB km
-1
) and can be determined by:
α dbL = 10 log10 (Pi / Po )
Where α db is the signal attenuations per unit length in decibels, L is the fiber length, Pi is
the input (transmitted) optical power into the fiber and Po is the output (received) optical
power
[17]
. Such transmission losses in typical fibers used today are less than 5 dB km
-1
verses the metallic wires used in the past with transmissions losses with significantly
higher losses.
In reducing the attenuation of the fiber, it cuts down on the costs since fewer
repeaters are required to restore the signal
[18]
. With this in mind two very important
techniques are considered when manufacturing an optical fiber with a specific
attenuation. The first technique involves purifying the material composition, which
reduces material absorption and Rayleigh scattering of the light rays within the fiber
[19]
.
The second is the preparation method of the fiber that must be done in a controlled
manner such as fiber drawing otherwise microscopic variation in the material density and
compositional fluctuations will result in light scattering in an optical fiber
The maximum transmission distance between a transmitter and a receiver of an
optical fiber is known as the attenuation of the fiber
[16]
. The attenuation is usually
expressed in decibels per unit length (dB km
-1
) and can be determined by:
α dbL = 10 log10 (Pi / Po )
Where α db is the signal attenuations per unit length in decibels, L is the fiber length, Pi is
the input (transmitted) optical power into the fiber and Po is the output (received) optical
power
[17]
. Such transmission losses in typical fibers used today are less than 5 dB km
-1
verses the metallic wires used in the past with transmissions losses with significantly
higher losses.
In reducing the attenuation of the fiber, it cuts down on the costs since fewer
repeaters are required to restore the signal
[18]
. With this in mind two very important
techniques are considered when manufacturing an optical fiber with a specific
attenuation. The first technique involves purifying the material composition, which
reduces material absorption and Rayleigh scattering of the light rays within the fiber
[19]
.
The second is the preparation method of the fiber that must be done in a controlled
manner such as fiber drawing otherwise microscopic variation in the material density and
compositional fluctuations will result in light scattering in an optical fiber
