A demountable device for attaching a cabled or uncabled optical fiber to another, or to an active device such as a transmitter.
Note 1: A connector is distinguished by the fact that it may be disconnected and reconnected, as opposed to a splice, which permanently joins two fibers.
Note 2: Optical connectors are sometimes erroneously referred to as "couplers. "… (Read More →)

See directional coupler, star coupler, T-coupler.

For a given wavelength, an expression of the transmittance of an optical element.
Note 1: Optical density is expressed by log10(1/T) where T is transmittance.
Note 2: The higher the optical density, the lower the transmittance.
Note 3: Optical density times 10 is equal to transmission loss expressed in decibels, e.g., an optical density of
0. 3 corresponds to a… (Read More →)

A transducer that generates an output signal when irradiated with optical energy.

A flat, circular, plastic disk coated with material on which bits may be stored in the form of highly reflective areas and significantly less reflective areas, from which the stored data may be read when illuminated with a narrow-beam source, such as a laser diode.
Note: The bits are stored sequentially on a continuous spiral track.

See dispersion.

A filament of transparent dielectric material, usually glass or plastic, and usually circular in cross section, that guides light.
Note 1: An optical fiber usually has a cylindrical core surrounded by, and in intimate contact with, a cladding of similar geometry.
Note 2: The refractive index of the core must be slightly higher than that of the cladding for the… (Read More →)

See fiber optic cable.

See primary coating.

See sheath.