See optical repeater.

In an optical communication system, an optoelectronic device or module that receives an optical signal, amplifies it (or, in the case of a digital signal, reshapes, retimes, or otherwise reconstructs it), and retransmits it as an optical signal.

The ratio (in dB) of optical power arriving at the interface (P1) to the optical power reflected back from the same interface (P2). [T1.106-1988]

The part of the physical plant consisting of the fiber-optic cabling and connectors interconnected to provide the transport function between two adjacent repeater locations, between a repeater location and an adjacent terminal location, or between two adjacent terminal locations. The optical section extends between the point on the optical fiber just after the transmitter optical connector and the point on… (Read More →)

1. In optical communications, a device that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal.
Note: The two most commonly used optical sources are light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes.
2. Test equipment that generates a stable optical signal for the purpose of making optical transmission loss measurements. [After FAA]

By custom and practice, the electromagnetic spectrum between the wavelengths of the vacuum ultraviolet at
0. 001 m and the far infrared at 100 m.
Note: The term "optical spectrum" originally applied only to that region of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the normal human eye, but is now considered to include all wavelengths between the shortest wavelengths of radio… (Read More →)

See directional coupler.

A switch that enables signals in optical fibers or integrated optical circuits (IOCs) to be selectively switched from one circuit to another.
Note 1: An optical switch may operate by (a) mechanical means such as physically shifting an optical fiber to drive one or more alternative fibers, or (b) electro-optic effects, magneto-optic effects, or other methods.
Note 2: Slow optical… (Read More →)

See power margin.

1. The product of the physical thickness of an isotropic optical element and its refractive index.
2. Of an optical system, the total optical path length through all elements.