See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/283302812

Fiber Optic Glossary

Technical Report · October 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3494.6001

CITATIONS READS
0 4,140

1 author:

Jeff Hecht
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
325 PUBLICATIONS 1,693 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Jeff Hecht on 29 October 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/1

Free Fiber-Optics Glossary

From Understanding Fiber Optics, 5th Edition, by Jeff Hecht
copyright 2015 Jeff Hecht, http://www.jeffhecht.com
See last page for Table of Contents
PDF of full 800-page book only $9.95 -- see http://www.jeffhecht.com/UFO.html
Also available in print-on-demand edition
You may copy and distribute this glossary without charge as long as the content and copyright
remain intact.

Absorption Conversion of light energy into another form 5 bytes of header information followed by 48 data bytes.
by a material. Not equal to loss or attenuation, which Attenuation Reduction of the magnitude of an optical
includes scattering. signal by any means, including absorption of energy or
Acceptance Angle The angle over which the core of an scattering of light. Measured in decibels per unit length.
optical fiber accepts incoming light; usually measured Attenuator An optical device that reduces the intensity
from the fiber axis. Related to numerical aperture (NA). of transmitted light.
Access Network Part of the telecommunication network Avalanche Photodiode (APD) A semiconductor
that connects to individual and corporate users. photodetector with integral detection and amplification
Active Component A component that requires external stages. Electrons generated at a pin junction are
power. accelerated in a region where they free an avalanche of
other electrons. APDs can detect faint signals but require
Add-Drop Multiplexer A device that drops and/or adds
higher voltages than other semiconductor electronics.
one or more optical channels to a signal.
Average Power The average level of power in a signal
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) A
that varies with time.
type of DSL with more bandwidth downstream (to the
subscriber) than upstream. AWG See Waveguide Array.

All-Dielectric Cable Cable made entirely of dielectric Axis The center of an optical fiber.
(insulating) materials without any metal conductors,
Backbone System A transmission network that carries
armor, or strength members.
high-speed telecommunications between regions (e.g., a
Analog A signal that varies continuously (e.g., sound nationwide long-distance telephone system). Sometimes
waves). Analog signals have frequency and bandwidth used to describe the part of a local area network that
measured in hertz. carries signals between branching points.
Angstrom (Å) A unit of length equal to 0.1 nm. Backscattering Scattering of light in the direction
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) A digital opposite to that in which it was originally traveling.
transmission switching format, with cells containing
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/2

Glossary

Bandwidth Information capacity. In analog systems, Carrier In technology, the wave that is modulated with a
bandwidth is the range of frequencies transmitted; in signal carrying information. In business, a company that
digital systems, it is the data rate. provides telecommunication services.

Baud Strictly speaking, the number of signal-level Category 5 A type of twisted-pair copper cable designed

transitions per second in digital data. For some common to transmit high-speed signals.

coding schemes, this equals bits per second, but this is CATV An acronym for cable television, derived from
not true for more complex coding, and it is often Community Antenna Tele Vision.
misused. Bits per second is less ambiguous. C-Band Wavelengths of 1530 to 1565 nm, where erbium-

Beamsplitter A device that divides incident light into doped fiber amplifiers have their strongest gain.
two separate beams. Normally erbium-fiber amplifiers operate in either C- or
L-band.
Bidirectional Operating in both directions. Bidirectional
Cell A fixed-length data packet transmitted in certain
couplers split or combine light the same way when it
digital systems such as ATM. Also the area served by one
passes through them in either direction. Bidirectional
cellular phone tower, and sometimes slang for a cellular
transmission sends signals in both directions, sometimes
telephone.
through the same fiber.
Central Office A telephone company facility for
Birefringent Having a refractive index that differs for
switching signals among local telephone circuits;
light of different polarizations.
connects to subscriber telephones. Also called a switching
Bit Error Rate (BER) The fraction of bits transmitted office.
incorrectly. Channel A distinct signal in a transmission medium.
Optical channels are signals transmitted through the
Bragg Scattering Scattering of light caused by a change
same fiber at different wavelengths.
in refractive index, as used in fiber Bragg gratings and
distributed Bragg reflectors. Chirp A variation in optical wavelength that arises from
directly modulating a diode laser source.
Broadband Covering a wide range of frequencies or
Chromatic Dispersion Wavelength-dependent pulse
having a high data rate. Broadband Internet service,
spreading in optical fibers, measured in picoseconds (of
including fiber to the home, DSL and cable modems, has
pulse spreading) per nanometer (of source bandwidth)
a much higher data rate than dial-up service.
per kilometer (of fiber length). It is the sum of waveguide
Broadcast Transmission Sending the same signal to and material dispersion.
many different places, like a television broadcasting
Circuit Originally a physical connection that transmits
station. Broadcast transmission can be over optical fibers
electricity or signals. Now also a communication channel
if the same signal is delivered to many subscribers.
that guarantees a fixed transmission capacity.
Bundle (of fibers) A rigid or flexible group of fibers Circuit Switching Making temporary physical or virtual
assembled in a unit. Coherent fiber bundles have fibers connections between two points, which guarantees a
arranged in the same way on each end and can transmit fixed transmission capacity.
images.
Cladding The layer of glass or other transparent material
Byte Eight bits of digital data. (Sometimes parity and surrounding the light-carrying core of an
check bits are included, so one “byte” may include 10
bits, but only 8 of them are data.)
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/3

Glossary

optical fiber. It has a lower refractive index than the core Critical Angle The angle at which light in a high-
and thus confines light in the core. Coatings may be refractive-index material undergoes total internal
applied over the cladding. reflection.

CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) A Cut-Back Measurement Measurement of optical loss,
company that offers local telephone service in com- made by cutting a fiber. It compares loss of a short
petition against dominant phone companies. segment with loss of a longer one.
Coarse Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (CWDM) Cutoff Wavelength The longest wavelength at which a
Transmitting signals at multiple wavelengths through the single-mode fiber can transmit two modes, or
same fiber with wide spacing between optical channels. (equivalently) the shortest wavelength at which a single-
Standard spacing is 20 nanometers. mode fiber carries only one mode.
Coating An outer plastic layer applied over the cladding Cycles per Second The frequency of a wave, or number
of a fiber for mechanical protection. of oscillations it makes per second. One cycle per second
Coax Coaxial cable—cable with a central metallic equals one hertz.
conductor surrounded by an insulator that is covered by Dark Current The noise current generated by a
a metallic sheath that runs the length of the cable. photodiode in the dark.
Coherent Bundle (of fibers) Fibers packaged together in Dark Fiber Optical fiber installed without transmitter
a bundle so they retain a fixed arrangement at the two and receiver, usually to provide expansion capacity. Some
ends and can transmit an image. carriers lease dark fibers to other companies that add
Compression Reducing the number of bits needed to equipment to transmit signals through them.
encode a digital signal, typically by eliminating long Data Link A fiber system transmitting digital data
strings of identical bits or bits that do not change in between two points.
successive sampling intervals (e.g., video frames).
dBm Decibels relative to 1 mW.
Connector A device mounted on the end of a fiber-optic
cable, light source, receiver, or housing that mates to a dBp Decibels relative to 1 pW.

similar device to couple light into and out of optical DBR See Distributed Bragg Reflection.
fibers. A connector joins two fiber ends, or one fiber end
Decibel (dB) A logarithmic comparison of power levels,
and a light source or detector.
defined as ten times the base-10 logarithm of the ratio of
Copper Industry slang for metal wire, either twisted-pair the two power levels. One-tenth of a bel.
or coaxial cable.
Demultiplexer A device that separates a multiplexed
Core The central part of an optical fiber that guides light. signal into its original components; the inverse of a
Coupler A device that connects three or more fiber ends, multiplexer.
dividing one input between two or more outputs or Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
combining two or more inputs into one output. Transmitting signals at multiple closely spaced
Coupling Transfer of light into or out of an optical fiber. wavelengths through the same fiber. Channel spacing is
(Note that coupling does not require a coupler.) usually 200, 100, or 50 GHz, corresponding to about 1.6,
0.8, or 0.4 nm respectively.

Detector A device that generates an electrical signal

when illuminated by light. The most common fiber-optic
detectors are photodiodes.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/4

Glossary

DFB See Distributed Feedback. Dispersion-Shifted Fiber Optical fiber with nominal

Dielectric Nonconductive. wavelength of zero chromatic dispersion shifted away

from 1310 nm. Sometimes used for zero dispersion-
Dielectric Filter An optical filter that selectively
shifted fiber, which has zero chromatic dispersion at 1550
transmits one wavelength and reflects others based on
nm and is not used in DWDM systems.
interference effects inside the structure. Also called
interference filter. Dispersion Slope The change in chromatic dispersion
with wavelength.
Digital Encoded as a signal in discrete levels, typically
Distributed Bragg Reflection Reflection of light caused
binary 1s and 0s.
by periodic changes in refractive index in a stack of layers
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) A service that transmits of different composition or—equivalently— by a
digital signals to homes at speeds of hundreds of kilobits corrugation at the boundary between two semiconductor
to tens of megabits per second over twisted-pair wires at layers. The period and the refractive index select one
higher frequencies than voice telephone signals. There wavelength.
are several variations.
Distributed Feedback Feedback arising from reflection

Diode An electronic device that lets current flow in only distributed through a structure.
one direction. Semiconductor diodes used in fiber optics Distributed-Feedback Laser A diode laser with a
contain a junction between regions of different doping. corrugation in the electrically pumped part of the laser,
They include light emitters (LEDs and laser diodes) and which selects the laser wavelength by reflecting that
detectors (photodiodes). wavelength back into the active layer.

Diode Laser A semiconductor diode that generates laser Doping Addition of small quantities of an impurity to a

light. A current flowing through the diode causes material to provide desired characteristics.
electrons and holes to recombine at the junction layer Semiconductors are doped to produce the desired
between p- and n-doped regions, producing excited states concentration of current carriers.
that can release energy in the form of light. Drop A cable that delivers service to an individual
customer.
Directional Coupler A coupler in which light is
transmitted differently when it goes in different DSL See Digital Subscriber Line.

directions. DTV Digital television.

Duplex In cables, one that contains two fibers. For
Discrimination Circuit Electronics that decide whether
connectors, one that connects two pairs of fibers. For data
a digital signal is a 1 or a 0.
transmission, full-duplex transmitters and receivers
Dispersion The stretching of light pulses as they travel simultaneously send and receive signals in both
in an optical fiber, which increases their duration. directions, but half-duplex cannot do both at the same
time.
Dispersion Compensation Typically, adding fibers or
other components with chromatic dispersion that offsets DWDM See Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing.

the chromatic dispersion of a fiber-optic transmission Edge-Emitting Diode An LED that emits light from its
line. Compensation is also possible for polarization-mode edge, producing more directional output than LEDs that
dispersion, but it is more difficult and rarely needed. emit from their top surface.
Electronic dispersion compensation is also possible. Edge-Emitting Laser A semiconductor laser that emits
light in the plane of its junction from the edge of the chip.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/5

Glossary

Electro-Absorption Modulator A semiconductor diode open the eye, the sharper the distinction between on and
reverse-modulated so it modulates light passing through off pulses.
it.
Fabry-Perot A resonant cavity formed by a pair of
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Noise generated mirrors aligned parallel to each other. A Fabry-Perot laser
when stray electromagnetic fields induce currents in is a diode laser with its edge facets cleaved so they form a
electrical conductors. Fabry-Perot cavity.
Electromagnetic Radiation Waves made up of
Ferrule A tube within a connector with a central hole
oscillating electrical and magnetic fields perpendicular to
that contains and aligns a fiber.
one another and traveling at the speed of light. Can also
be viewed as photons or quanta of energy. Fiber Amplifier An optical fiber doped to amplify light
Electromagnetic radiation includes radio waves, from an external source. The most important type is the
microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, erbium-doped fiber amplifier.
X rays, and gamma rays.
Fiber Bragg Grating An optical fiber in which the core
EMI See Electromagnetic Interference. refractive index varies periodically along its length,
Endoscope A fiber-optic bundle used for imaging and causing Bragg scattering at wavelengths selected by the
viewing inside the human body. period and refractive index. A fiber Bragg grating reflects
the selected wavelength and transmits others.
Erbium Band The range of wavelengths where erbium-
doped fiber amplifiers are used, from 1530 to 1610 nm. Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) A standard for

Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) Optical fiber a 100-Mbit/s fiber-optic local-area network.
doped with the rare earth element erbium, which can Fiber-Optic Gyroscope A coil of optical fiber that can
amplify light at 1530 to 1610 nm when pumped by an detect rotation about its axis.
external light source.
Fiber to the Curb (FTTC) Fiber-optic service to a node
Ethernet A local-area network standard. The original
that is connected by wires to several nearby homes,
Ethernet transmits 10 Mbit/s. Other versions are Fast
typically on a block.
Ethernet at 100 Mbit/s, Gigabit Ethernet at 1 Gbit/s, and
10-Gigabit Ethernet. Fiber to the Home (FTTH) A network in which optical

Evanescent Wave Guided light waves that extend fibers bring signals all the way to homes.
beyond the boundary of a fiber core into the cladding.
Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) Distribution of signals
Evanescent waves can transfer energy between wave-
through fiber optics all the way to individual residences.
guides.
Functionally the same as fiber to the home.
Excess Loss Loss of a passive coupler above that
Fibre Channel A standard for data transmission among
inherent in dividing light among the output ports.
storage devices and computers over fiber or copper.
External Modulation Modulation of output of a light
source by an external device. FITL Fiber in the loop.

Extrinsic Loss Splice losses arising from the splicing Fluoride Glasses Materials that have the amorphous
process itself. structure of glass but are made of fluoride compounds

Eye Pattern A pattern formed by overlaying traces of a

(e.g., zirconium fluoride) rather than oxide compounds
(e.g., silica).
series of transmitted pulses in a visual display. The more
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/6

Glossary

Forward Error Correction Adding extra bits to a block Graded-index Fiber A fiber in which the refractive index
of data bits to detect and correct errors in transmission. changes gradually with distance from the fiber axis,
Frame A fixed-length block of data transmitted as a unit; rather than abruptly at the core-cladding interface.
SONET transmits frames. In video, one of a series of Graded-index Fiber Lens A short segment of graded-
images shown in sequence. index fiber that focuses light passing through it.
Free-Space Optics Light signals transmitted through air Granularity How finely a signal can be broken into its
rather than fibers. component parts.
Frequency The number of times an electromagnetic Group Delay Time The difference in travel time through
wave oscillates in a second, or the number of wave peaks a fiber for light of different wavelengths.
that pass a point in a second; measured in hertz.
Half-Duplex In data transmission, a system in which
Frequency-Division Multiplexing Combining analog transmitters and receivers cannot simultaneously send
signals by assigning each a different carrier frequency and receive signals.
and merging them in a single signal with a broad range
Hard-Clad Silica Fiber A fiber with a hard plastic
of frequencies.
cladding surrounding a step-index silica core. (Other
FTTC See Fiber to the curb. plastic-clad silica fibers have a soft plastic cladding.)

Harmonic Frequency A frequency that is an integral

FTTH See Fiber to the home.
multiple of a base frequency.
FTTP See Fiber to the Premises.
HDTV High-definition (or high-resolution) television;
Full-Duplex In data transmission, transmitters and
digital television with higher resolution than present
receivers that simultaneously send and receive signals in
analog systems.
both directions.
Head-End The central facility where signals are
Fused Fibers A bundle of fibers melted together so they
combined for distribution in a cable television system.
maintain a fixed alignment with respect to each other in
Hertz Frequency in cycles per second.
a rigid rod.
Hierarchy A set of transmission speeds arranged to
Fusion Splice A splice made by melting the tips of two
multiplex signals at successively higher data rates.
fibers together so they form a solid junction.
Hybrid Fiber/Coax A network that uses fiber to
Gain The increase in signal strength as light passes
distribute cable-television signals to nodes, which in turn
through an amplifying medium.
distribute them to homes over coaxial cable.
Gallium Aluminum Arsenide (GaAlAs) A semi-
Index-Matching Gel A gel or fluid with refractive index
conductor compound used in LEDs, diode lasers, and
certain detectors. close to that of glass, which reduces refractive-index
discontinuities that can cause reflective losses.
Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) A semiconductor compound
Index of Refraction A quantity that measures how much
used in LEDs, diode lasers, detectors, and electronic
the speed of light slows down in a material. Designated n,
components.
it is the speed of light in a vacuum divided by the speed
Gbit/s Gigabits (billion bits) per second.
of light in the material. Also called refractive index.
Glass A solid in which the atoms are arranged randomly
instead of ordered in a crystal. In fiber optics, “glass”
usually means a silica compound unless otherwise noted.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/7

Glossary

Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) A semiconductor Internet Protocol (IP) Standard packet-switched
material used in lasers, LEDs, and detectors. transmission format for the Internet; uses variable- length
Indium Gallium Arsenide Phosphide (InGaAsP) packets.
A semiconductor material used in lasers, LEDs, and Intrinsic Layer A layer of semiconductor that is not
detectors. doped with impurities to form current carriers.
Infrared Light with wavelengths longer than 700 nm and Intrinsic Losses Splice losses arising from differences in
shorter than about 1 µm, invisible to the human eye, the fibers being spliced.
which we can feel as heat. Glass optical fibers transmit
Irradiance Power per unit area.
infrared signals at 700 to about 1650 nm in the infrared.
Junction Laser A semiconductor diode laser.
Infrared Fiber Colloquially, optical fiber with best
transmission at wavelengths of 2 µm or longer, made of Junction Layer The layer between p- and n-doped
materials other than silica glass. semiconductors, where current carriers recombine and
emit light in a semiconductor laser or LED.
Injection Laser Another name for a semiconductor or
diode laser. LAN See Local-Area Network.

Integrated Optics Optical devices that perform two or Large-Core Fiber Usually, a fiber with a core of 200 µm
more functions and are integrated on a single substrate; or more.
analogous to integrated electronic circuits. Laser From light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, one
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) of the wide range of devices that generates light by that
Originally a standard to transmit two digital voice lines principle. Laser light is directional, covers a narrow range
at 64 kbit/s and one 16-kbit/s data channel. Now of wavelengths, and is more coherent than ordinary light.
repackaged as IDSL, a form of DSL, transmitting 128 Semiconductor diode lasers are the usual light sources in
kbit/s over distances beyond the reach of DSL. fiber-optic systems.
Intensity Power per unit solid angle. Layer A standard or protocol for signal transmission or
processing to perform certain functions. It includes
Interference For light, the way that waves add together,
standard interfaces with other layers, which perform
depending on their phase. Constructive interference occurs
other functions.
when the waves are in phase and their amplitudes add.
Destructive interference occurs when the waves are 180° out of L-Band Wavelengths of 1565 to 1625 nm where some
phase and their amplitudes cancel. erbium-doped fiber amplifiers operate. Separate from the
C-band.
Interference Filter An optical filter that selectively
transmits one wavelength and reflects others based on LED See Light-Emitting Diode.

interference effects inside the structure. Also called Legacy Older equipment, generally no longer made.
dielectric filter.
Light Strictly speaking, electromagnetic radiation visible
Interferometric Sensor A fiber-optic sensor that relies to the human eye at 400 to 700 nm. Commonly, the term
on interference effects. is applied to electromagnetic radiation with properties
Interleaver An optical device that separates a series of similar to visible light, including the invisible near-
optical channels so alternating wavelengths emerge out infrared radiation in most fiber-optic communication
its two ports. The best-known type is a Mach- Zehnder systems.
interferometer.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/8

Glossary

Light-Emitting Diode (LED) A semiconductor diode Margin Allowance for attenuation in addition to that
that emits incoherent light at the junction between p- and explicitly accounted for in system design.
n-doped materials. Material Dispersion Pulse dispersion caused by
Lightguide An optical fiber or fiber bundle. variation of a material’s refractive index with wavelength.

Light Piping Use of optical fibers to illuminate. Mbit/s Megabits (million bits) per second.

Lightwave As an adjective, a synonym for optical, often Mechanical Splice A splice in which fibers are joined

(but not always) meaning fiber-optic. mechanically (e.g., glued or crimped in place) but not
fused together.
Linewidth The range of wavelengths in an optical signal,
sometimes called spectral width. MEMS (Micro-electro-mechanical systems)
Tiny moving elements, often mirrors, fabricated from
Local-Area Network (LAN) A network that transmits
semiconductor materials.
data among many nodes in a small area (e.g., a building
or campus). Mesh A network that makes multiple interconnections
between different points.
Local Loop The part of the telephone network extending
from the central (switching) office to the subscriber. Metro Network A telecommunication system offering
services to a metropolitan area, typically with cable
Longitudinal Modes Oscillation modes of a laser along
lengths to 200 km.
the length of its cavity. Each longitudinal mode contains
only a narrow range of wavelengths, so a laser emitting a Microbending Tiny bends in a fiber that allow light to

single longitudinal mode has a narrow bandwidth. leak out and increase loss.
Distinct from transverse modes. Micrometer One-millionth of a meter, abbreviated µm.

Loose Tube A protective tube loosely surrounding a Micron Short for the preferred form, micrometer.
cabled fiber, often filled with gel.
Modal Dispersion Dispersion arising from differences in
Loss Attenuation of optical signal, normally measured in the times that different modes take to travel through
decibels. multimode fiber.
Loss Budget An accounting of overall attenuation in a Mode An electromagnetic field distribution that satisfies
system. theoretical requirements for propagation in a waveguide
Mach-Zehnder Interferometer An optical device that or oscillation in a cavity (e.g., a laser). Light has modes in
separates a series of optical channels so alternating a fiber or laser.
wavelengths emerge out its two ports, sometimes called Mode-Field Diameter The diameter of the one mode of
an interleaver. light propagating in a single-mode fiber, slightly larger
MAN (Metropolitan-Area Network) A network linking than core diameter.
local-area networks, usually within a metropolitan area. Mode Stripper A device that removes high-order modes
MANs normally are private networks that serve one in a multimode fiber to give standard measurement
company’s facilities; metro networks are public networks conditions.
run by companies that offer telecommunication services.
Modulation Changing the properties of a carrier wave so
it transmits a signal. Amplitude modulation varies the
wave amplitude.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/9

Glossary

Multimode Transmits or emits multiple modes of light. NTSC The now-obsolete analog video broadcast that

Multiple System Operators (MSOs) Companies that formerly was used in North America, set by the National
operate cable television networks in many communities. Television System Committee.

Multiplexer A device that combines two or more signals Numerical Aperture (NA) The sine of half the angle over

into a single output. which a fiber can accept light. Strictly speaking, this is
multiplied by the refractive index of the medium
n Region A semiconductor doped to have an excess of
containing the light, but for air the index is almost equal
electrons as current carriers.
to 1.
NA See Numerical Aperture.
O-Band Wavelengths of 1270 to 1370 nm, the “original”
Nanometer A unit of length, 10 9 m. It is part of the SI
band for fiber transmission.
system and has largely replaced the non-SI Angstrom (0.1
nm) in technical literature. OC-x Optical Carrier, one in a series of carrier rates
specified in the SONET standard.
Near-Infrared The part of the infrared near the visible
Optical Add-Drop An optical multiplexer that drops
spectrum, typically 700 to 1500 or 2000 nm; it is not
rigidly defined. and/or adds one or more optical channels to a signal.

Network A system of cables or other connections that Optical Amplifier A device that amplifies an input

links many terminals or devices, all of which can optical signal without converting it into electrical form.

communicate with each other through the system. The best developed are optical fibers doped with the rare-
earth element erbium.
Noise Equivalent Power (NEP) The optical input power
Optical Channel An optical signal transmitted at one
to a detector needed to generate an electrical signal equal
wavelength. WDM systems transmit multiple channels at
to the inherent electrical noise.
separate wavelengths.
Nonlinear Effects Interactions that are not proportional
Optical Circulator A device that transmits light only in
to the strength of one light signal. For example, certain
one direction through a series of ports, so light can go
interactions are proportional to the square of the light
from port 1 to port 2 and port 2 to port 3, but not from
power rather than to the power itself. Nonlinear effects
port 2 to port 1.
can distort signals.
Optical Isolator A device that transmits light in one
Nonzero Dispersion-Shifted Fiber Single-mode optical
direction but blocks light in the opposite direction.
fiber with the wavelength of zero chromatic dispersion
shifted outside the C-band. Some types have zero Optical Networking Processing and switching signals in
dispersion near 1500 nm, others near 1625 nm. Types optical form as well as transmitting them optically.
with zero dispersion at 1580 nm are not usable in the L- Optical Node The point where signals are transferred
band of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. from optical fibers to other transmission media, typically
No Return to Zero (NRZ) A digital code in which the twisted-pair wires or coaxial cable.
signal level is low for a 0 bit and high for a 1 bit and does Optical Performance Monitor A device installed in a
not return to 0 between successive 1 bits. WDM system to monitor signals at the transmitted
Normal (angle) Perpendicular to a surface. wavelengths.

Optical Spectrum Analyzer An instrument that scans the

spectrum to record power as a function of wavelength.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/10

Glossary

Optical Loss Test Set An optical power meter and light Photons Quanta of electromagnetic radiation. Light can
source calibrated for use together. be viewed as either a wave or a series of photons.

Optical Switch A switch that operates on light, Picosecond One-trillionth (10 -12 ) second.
redirecting optical signals.
pin Photodiode A semiconductor detector with an
Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) intrinsic (z) region separating the p- and n-doped regions.
An instrument that measures transmission characteristics It has fast linear response and is used in fiber-optic
by sending a short pulse of light down a fiber and receivers.
observing backscattered light.
Planar Waveguide A flat waveguide formed on the
Optical Waveguide Technically, any structure that can surface of a flat material. The zone of high refractive
guide light. Sometimes used as a synonym for optical index is rectangular in cross-section and guides light in
fiber, it can also apply to planar light waveguides. the same way as the core of an optical fiber.
p Region Part of a semiconductor doped with electron Plastic-Clad Silica (PCS) Fiber A step-index multimode
acceptors in which holes (vacancies in the valence fiber in which a silica core is surrounded by a lower-index
electron level) are the dominant current carriers. plastic cladding.
Packet Switching Organizing signals by dividing them Plastic Fiber An optical fiber made entirely of plastic
into data packets, each containing a header that specifies compounds.
its destination and data intended for that destination.
Plenum Cable Cable made of fire-retardant material that
Separate data packets then are directed to their
meets electrical code requirements (UL 910) for low
destinations.
smoke generation and installation in air spaces.
Passive Component A component that doesn’t require
Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy The North American
outside power.
Digital Hierarchy of time-division multiplexing rates.
Passive Optical Network A fiber-optic distribution
Point-to-Point Transmission Carrying a signal between
network with no active components between the
two points, without branching to other points.
switching office and the customer.
Polarization Alignment of the electric and magnetic
PCS Fiber See Plastic-Clad Silica Fiber.
fields that make up an electromagnetic wave; normally
Peak Power Highest instantaneous power level in a refers to the electric field. If all light waves have the same
pulse. alignment, the light is polarized.

Phase The position of a wave in its oscillation cycle. Polarization-Maintaining Fiber Fiber that maintains the
polarization of light that enters it.
Photodetector A light detector.
Polarization-Mode Dispersion Dispersion arising from
Photodiode A diode that can produce an electrical signal
random fluctuations in how fibers transmit light in
proportional to light falling upon it.
vertical and horizontal polarizations.
Photonic A term coined for devices that work using
POP An Internet node called a Point of Presence.
photons or light, analogous to “electronic” for devices
working with electrons. Population Inversion A condition in which more atoms
are in an upper energy level than in a lower energy level,
Photonic Bandgap A range of wavelengths that cannot
allowing stimulated emission to occur. A prerequisite for
propagate in materials with certain internal
laser action.
microstructures.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/11

Glossary

POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) Analog voice Recombination Combination of an electron and a hole in
telephone lines. a semiconductor that releases energy, sometimes leading
Preform A cylindrical rod of specially prepared and to light emission.

purified glass from which an optical fiber is drawn. Reduced-Cladding Fibers Fibers with cladding smaller

Provisioning Arranging a network to provide services to

than the standard 125-pm outer diameter.

customers. Refraction The bending of light as it passes between

Public Switched Telephone Network The network that materials of different refractive index.

provides standard voice telephone service, available to Refractive Index A quantity that measures how much
anyone who pays for service. the speed of light slows down in a material. Designated n,
it is the speed of light in a vacuum divided by the speed
Pulse Dispersion The spreading out of pulses as they
of light in the material. Also called index of refraction.
travel along an optical fiber.
Refractive-index Gradient The change in refractive
Pulse Duration The length of a pulse. Usually specified
index with distance from the axis of an optical fiber.
as “full width at half maximum,” meaning the time from
when the signal reaches half its peak value to the time Regenerator A receiver-transmitter pair that detects a
when it drops below half the peak. weak signal, cleans it up, then sends the regenerated
signal through another length of fiber.
Pump Laser A laser that provides light that excites
atoms in a fiber amplifier, putting them in the right state Repeater A receiver-transmitter pair that detects and
to amplify light. amplifies a weak signal for retransmission through
another length of optical fiber.
Quantum Efficiency The fraction of photons that strike a
detector that produces electron-hole pairs in the output Repetition Rate The number of pulses or data bits per
current. second.

Quaternary A semiconductor compound made of four Responsivity The ratio of detector output to input,
elements (e.g., InGaAsP). usually measured in units of amperes per watt (or
microamperes per microwatt).
Radiometer An instrument, distinct from a photometer,
used to measure power (watts) of electromagnetic Return to Zero (RZ) A digital coding scheme where
radiation. signal level is low for a 0 bit and high for a 1 bit during
the first half of a bit interval and then in either case
Raman Amplifier A fiber that transfers energy from a
returns to zero for the second half of the bit interval.
strong pump beam to amplify a weaker signal at a longer
wavelength, using stimulated Raman scattering. Ribbon Cables Cables in which many parallel fibers are

Rayleigh Scattering Light scattering by particles such as

embedded in a plastic material, forming a flat ribbon-like
structure.
atoms or molecules that are much smaller than the
wavelength. Ring A cable that forms a closed loop connecting two or

Rays Straight lines that represent the path taken by light.

more points, so all points remain connected if the cable
breaks at one point.
Receiver A device that detects an optical signal and
converts it into an electrical form usable by other devices. Rise Time The time it takes output to rise from low levels
to peak value. Typically measured as the time to rise from
10% to 90% of maximum output.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/12

Glossary

ROADM Reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer. Single Mode Containing only one mode. When dealing

Router A device that directs data packets to their

with lasers, beware of ambiguities because of the

destinations using information in their headers to pick difference between transverse and longitudinal modes. A

the best path. Distinct from wavelength router. laser operating in a single transverse mode typically does
not operate in a single longitudinal mode.
S-Band Wavelengths of 1460 to 1530 nm.
Single-Polarization Fibers Optical fibers capable of
Scattering Loss of light that is scattered off atoms in
carrying light in only one polarization.
different directions, so it escapes from the fiber core. A
Smart Structures (or Smart Skins) Materials containing
major component of fiber attenuation.
sensors (fiber-optic or other types) to measure their
SDH See Synchronous Digital Hierarchy.
properties during fabrication and use.
Selfoc Lens A trade name used by the Nippon Sheet Soliton An optical pulse that naturally retains its original
Glass Company for a graded-index fiber lens; a segment shape as it travels along an optical fiber.
of graded-index fiber made to serve as a lens.
SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) A standard for
Semiconductor Laser A laser in which injection of fiber-optic transmission.
current into a semiconductor diode produces light by
Spectral Efficiency A measure of how efficiently data
recombination of holes and electrons at the junction
transmission uses the available spectrum, typically in bits
between p- and n-doped regions.
per hertz of bandwidth.
Semiconductor Optical Amplifier A semiconductor
Spectrum Range of wavelengths. The optical spectrum,
diode with reflection from its facets suppressed so it can
for example, is the range of optical wavelengths.
amplify light from an external source, but will not
Splice A permanent junction between two fiber ends.
produce a laser beam on its own.

Sheath An outer protective layer of a fiber-optic cable. Splitting Ratio The ratio of power emerging from output
ports of a coupler.
SI Units The standard international system of metric
units. Standard Single-Mode Fiber Step-index single-mode
fiber with zero dispersion at 1310 nm; the first type used
Side Bands Bands above and below the carrier fre-
in fiber-optic communications, still widely used.
quency that are generated by modulating the carrier.
Star Coupler A coupler with more than three or four
Signal-to-Noise Ratio The ratio of signal to noise,
ports.
measured in decibels; an indication of analog signal
quality. Step-lndex Multimode Fiber A step-index fiber with a
core large enough to carry light in multiple modes.
Silica Glass Glass made mostly of silicon dioxide, SiO 2
used in conventional optical fibers. Step-lndex Single-Mode Fiber A step-index fiber with a
small core capable of carrying light in only one mode;
Simplex Single element (e.g., a simplex connector is a
this type has zero dispersion at 1310 nm.
single-fiber connector).
Stimulated Raman Scattering Interactions between light
Single-Frequency Laser A laser that emits a range of
and atoms in a transparent material that convert energy
wavelengths small enough to be considered a single
from one wavelength to another.
frequency.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/13

Glossary

Subscriber Loop The part of the telephone network from Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) Digital multiplexing
a central office to individual subscribers. by taking one bit or byte of data at a time from separate
signals and combining them in a single bit stream.
Surface-Emitting Diode An LED that emits light from
its flat surface rather than its side. Simple and Total Internal Reflection Total reflection of light back
inexpensive, with emission spread over a wide angle. into a material when it strikes the interface with a
material having a lower refractive index at an angle
Surface-Emitting Laser A semiconductor laser that
below a critical value.
emits light from the wafer surface.
Transceiver A combination of transmitter and receiver
Switch A device that directs light or electricity along
providing both output and input interfaces with a device.
different paths, such as fibers or wires.
Transmitter A light source packaged with drive
Switched Network A network that routes signals to their
electronics to produce an optical signal.
destinations by switching circuits, such as the telephone
system. Transverse Modes Modes across the width of a
waveguide, fiber, or laser. Distinct from longitudinal
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) The in-
modes, which are along the length of a laser.
ternational version of SONET, the Synchronous Optical
Network standard. The biggest difference is in the names Tree A network architecture in which transmission
of the transmission rates. routes branch out from a central point.

Synchronous Optical Network See SONET. Trunk Line A transmission line running between
telephone switching offices or from a cable-TV head-end
Tbit/s Terabits (trillion, or 10 12 bits) per second.
to a distribution node.
T Carrier A system transmitting signals at one of the
Twisted Pair Pair of copper wires twisted around each
standard levels in the North American digital hierarchy. other. The standard way to connect individual voice
T Coupler A coupler with three ports. telephones, widely used for other low-speed
communications.
TDM See Time-Division Multiplexing.
Ultraviolet Electromagnetic waves invisible to the
Ternary A semiconductor compound made of three
human eye, with wavelengths about 10 to 400 nm, shorter
elements (e.g., GaAlAs).
than visible light.
Thermo-Optic Switches Optical switches controlled by
VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser)
temperature-induced changes in refractive index.
A semiconductor laser in which light oscillates vertically
III-V (3-5) Semiconductor A semiconductor compound (perpendicular to the junction plane) and emerges from
made of one or more elements from the IIIA column of the surface of the wafer rather than from the edge of the
the periodic table (Al, Ga, and In) and one or more chip.
elements from the VA column (N, P, As, or Sb). Used in
Video on Demand A service that delivers programs from
LEDs, diode lasers, and detectors.
a video library to subscribers through a communications
Threshold Current The minimum current needed to network.
sustain laser action in a diode laser.
Visible Light Electromagnetic radiation visible to the
Tight Buffer A material tightly surrounding a fiber in a human eye at wavelengths of 400 to 700 nm.
cable, holding it rigidly in place.
Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/14

Glossary

VOA (Variable Optical Attenuator) An attenuator in in the core and cladding of a single-mode fiber (i.e., from
which the attenuation can be varied. the fibers waveguide structure).

Voice Telephone service, including fax, fixed phones, Wavelength The distance an electromagnetic wave
and mobile phones. travels in the time it takes to oscillate through a complete

Voice Circuit A circuit capable of carrying one telephone

cycle. Wavelengths of light are measured in nanometers

conversation or its equivalent; the standard subunit in (10 -9 m) or micrometers (10 -6 m).

which telecommunication capacity is counted. The U.S. Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM)

analog equivalent is 4 kHz. The digital equivalent is 64 Multiplexing of signals by transmitting them at different
kbit/s. wavelengths through the same fiber.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Transmission of Wavelength Router An optical device that directs input
voice signals over the Internet as packets using Internet signals according to their wavelength.
Protocol rather than over the conventional telephone Window A wavelength region where fibers have low
network. attenuation, used for transmitting signals.
WAN Wide-area network. Wireless Transmitted without wires, in practice using

Waveguide A structure that guides electromagnetic radio waves, microwaves, or light through the air.
waves along its length. An optical fiber is an optical Zero Dispersion-Shifted Fiber Fiber with zero
waveguide. chromatic dispersion shifted to 1550 nm, used before the
Waveguide Array An array of curved planar wave- advent of DWDM.
guides that separates many optical channels at once. Also Zero-Dispersion Wavelength Wavelength at which net
called an array waveguide (AWG). chromatic dispersion of an optical fiber is nominally zero.
Waveguide Dispersion The part of chromatic dispersion Arises where waveguide dispersion cancels out material
arising from the different speeds light travels dispersion.
 Hecht/Free Fiber Optics Glossary/15

Understanding  Fiber  Optics  5th  ed,  by  Jeff  Hecht  

Table  of  Contents  
1.  Introduction  to  Fiber  Optics  
2.  Fundamentals  of  Fiber-­‐Optic  Components  
3.  Fundamentals  of  Communications  
4.  Types  of  Optical  Fibers  
5.  Properties  of  Optical  Fibers  
6.  Fiber  Materials,  Structure,  and  Manufacture  
7.  Specialty  Fibers  
8.  Cabling  
9.  Light  Sources  
10.  Transmitters    
11.  Receivers  
12.  Amplification,  Regeneration  and  Wavelength  Conversion    
13.  Connectors  and  Splices  
14:  Couplers  and  Other  Passive  Components:    
15:  Wavelength-­‐Division  Multiplexing  Optics  
16:  Optical  Switches,  Modulators,  and  Other  Active  Components  
17.  Fiber-­‐Optic  Measurements  
18:  Troubleshooting  and  Test  Equipment  
19:  System  and  Optical  Networking  Concepts  
20.  Fiber  System  Standards  
21:  Single-­‐Channel  System  Design  
22:  Optical  Networking  System  Design  
23:  Global  Telecommunication  Applications  
24:  Regional  and  Metro  Telecommunications  
25:  Local  Telephone  or  "Access"  Networks  
26.  Internet  Access  and  Local-­‐Area  Networks  
27.  Video  Transmission  
28:  Mobile  Fiber-­‐Optic  Communications  
29.  Fiber-­‐optic  Sensors  
30.  Imaging  and  Illuminating  Fiber  Optics  
 
Appendices  
A:  Important  Constants,  Units,  Conversion  Factors,  and  Equations  
B:  Decibels  and  Equivalent  Power  Ratios  
C.  Standard  Time-­‐Division  Multiplexing  Rates  
D.  ITU  Frequencies  and  Wavelengths  for  L-­‐  and  C-­‐bands  
E.  Laser  and  Fiber  Safety  
F.  Fiber-­‐Optic  Resources  
Glossary  
Index  

View publication stats