Optical Fibre : a Review
Executive Summary
Optical fibres are being increasingly used in the telecommunications industry. They are slowly replacing the conventional copper cables due their superior ‘data transmission’ properties. They transmit data via light pulses within glass or plastic strands. Fibre optics fit the material requirements for good data transmission since they are ability to transmit and preserve quality of signals, durable and cost-effective. Some of the current materials employed within the industry are glasses (oxide and non-oxide), polymers and metals (copper cable). The properties of silica glasses (oxide glasses) and fluoride glasses (non-oxide) were examined. Silica glasses were found to be the most suitable material for optical fibres due to its formability and ability to be doped with various materials to control their optical properties. The processing route for silica optical fibres involves 2 stages. The first stage is the formation of the silica optical fibre preform by ‘Modified Chemical Vapour Deposition (MCVD)’. The second stage is the drawing of the silica optical fibre preform using a ‘drawing tower’. The current and potential markets for optical fibre apart from telecommunications are medical, military, industrial and broadcast. Glasses are preferable for the usage in fibre optics compared to other materials such as ceramics, metals and polymers. Based on the research done, we strongly believe that the application of optical fibres in these industries will be successful since optical fibres have better overall performance such as being lightweight, durable, have better data transmission properties and are immune to electrical disturbances compared to the copper cablings.
Contents List
Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………..…. 1
Contents List ……………………………………………………………………..…… 2
Glossary of Abbreviations ……………………………………………………..…… 3 1.0 Introduction ………………………………………………………………..….. 4
2.0 Body of report …………………………………………………………..…….. 5
2.1
Optical fibres are being increasingly used in the telecommunications industry. They are slowly replacing the conventional copper cables due their superior ‘data transmission’ properties. They transmit data via light pulses within glass or plastic strands. Fibre optics fit the material requirements for good data transmission since they are ability to transmit and preserve quality of signals, durable and cost-effective. Some of the current materials employed within the industry are glasses (oxide and non-oxide), polymers and metals (copper cable). The properties of silica glasses (oxide glasses) and fluoride glasses (non-oxide) were examined. Silica glasses were found to be the most suitable material for optical fibres due to its formability and ability to be doped with various materials to control their optical properties. The processing route for silica optical fibres involves 2 stages. The first stage is the formation of the silica optical fibre preform by ‘Modified Chemical Vapour Deposition (MCVD)’. The second stage is the drawing of the silica optical fibre preform using a ‘drawing tower’. The current and potential markets for optical fibre apart from telecommunications are medical, military, industrial and broadcast. Glasses are preferable for the usage in fibre optics compared to other materials such as ceramics, metals and polymers. Based on the research done, we strongly believe that the application of optical fibres in these industries will be successful since optical fibres have better overall performance such as being lightweight, durable, have better data transmission properties and are immune to electrical disturbances compared to the copper cablings.
Contents List
Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………..…. 1
Contents List ……………………………………………………………………..…… 2
Glossary of Abbreviations ……………………………………………………..…… 3 1.0 Introduction ………………………………………………………………..….. 4
2.0 Body of report …………………………………………………………..…….. 5
2.1
References: 1. Govind P. Agrawal, ‘’Fibre-Optic Communication Systems’’. John Wiley & Sons Inc. Rochester (1992) pp 22-35. 2. A. Mendez and T.F Morse. ‘’Specialty Optical Fibres Handbook’’. Elsevier. San Diego, CA (December 2007). pp. 429-452. 4. A.B Seddon. ‘’Chalcogenide glasses: a review of their preparation, properties and applications’’. Journal of Non-crystalline solids (1995). 184, 44-50. 5. Hewak Dan (1998). Properties, Processing and Applications of Glass and Rare Earth-Doped Glasses for Optical Fibres. (pp: 55-56, 62-64). Institution of Engineering and Technology. 6. Casimer Decuasatis, Carolyn J. Sher Decuasatis. Fiber Optic Essentials. USA. Elsevier, 2006. 7. Corning Incorporated, 2012, “Get the Facts On Optical Fibers”, Available at “http://media.corning.com/flash/opticalfiber/2012/corning_optical_fiber/Documentation/FIBER_MATTERS/flipbook/585324499/index.html” [Accessed on 22nd November 2012].