Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The importance of fibre optics has been increasing in recent times, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when internet connections facilitated virtual communication.
- Optical fibres, made of thin glass strands, can transmit various forms of digital information, such as text, images, voices, and videos, across long distances at nearly the speed of light.
- The development of fibre optic communication can be traced back to physicist Charles Kao, who proposed glass fibres as a superior medium for telecommunication over 60 years ago.
Working principle of optical fibres:
- It relies on total internal reflection to guide light through the glass strands, allowing signals to travel across significant distances with minimal loss of optical power.
- The historical evolution of fibre optic cables is outlined, starting from early experiments with light guiding in the 19th century to the breakthroughs in the mid-20th century that led to the development of long-distance transmission.
- The current state of fibre optic technology is highlighted, with optical fibres playing crucial roles in telecommunication, medical science, laser technology, and sensing.
