subject: Optical Fiber Technology [print this page] * Fusion Splicer: An instrument that splices fibers by fusing or welding them, typically by electrical arc.
Key fiber performance specifications:
* Attenuation: The reduction in optical power as it passes along a fiber, usually expressed in decibels (dB). See optical loss
* Bandwidth: The range of signal frequencies or bit rate within which a fiber optic component, link or network will operate.
* Decibels (dB): A unit of measurement of optical power which indicates relative power.
* dB: Optical power referenced an arbitrary zero level
* dBm: Optical power referenced to 1 milliwatt
* Micron (m): A unit of measure used to measure wavelength of light.
* Nanometer (nm): A unit of measure used to measure the wavelength of light (meaning one one-billilonth of a meter)
* Optical Loss: The amount of optical power lost as light is transmitted through fiber, splices, couplers, etc, expressed in dB.
* Optical Power: is measured in "dBm", or decibels referenced to one miliwatt of power.
* Scattering: The change of direction of light after striking small particles that causes loss in optical fibers and is used to make measurements by an OTDR
* Wavelength: A term for the color of light, usually expressed in nanometers (nm) or microns (m).
