Skip to page content |

Tiscali Quicklinks. Please visit our Accessibility Page for a list of the Access Keys you can use to find your way around the site, skip directly to the main navigation, to the page content, or to more links within reference.

Advertisement starts

Advertisement ends

Content Starts Here

optical fibre

encyclopaedia header
Encyclopaedia Search
Click a letter for the index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Or search the encyclopaedia:
 
 
 
all results tagged with the © symbol denotes content that is relevant to the national curriculum

Optical Fibre

fibre optic amplification device - Click to enlarge fibre optic splicing - Click to enlarge optical fibre - Click to enlarge

Click images to enlarge

Very fine, optically-pure glass fibre through which light can be reflected to transmit images or data from one end to the other. Although expensive to produce and install, optical fibres can carry more data than traditional cables, and are less susceptible to interference. Standard optical fibre transmitters can send up to 10 billion bits of information per second by switching a laser beam on and off.

Optical fibres are increasingly being used to replace metal communications cables, the messages being encoded as digital pulses of light rather than as fluctuating electric current. Research is investigating how optical fibres could replace wiring inside computers.

Bundles of optical fibres are also used in endoscopes to inspect otherwise inaccessible parts of machines or of the living body (see endoscopy).

© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.


 
Back
 

Advertisement starts

Advertisement ends



backbone
bandwidth
bridge (computing)
colour (physics)
dispersion (physics)
domain (Internet)
electromagnetic spectrum
electromagnetic waves
Ethernet
frequency (physics)
gamma radiation
infrared radiation
infrastructure (Internet)
Internet
intranet
local area network
log off
log on
microwave radiation
multi-user
network
optical fibre
print spooler
prism (optics)
radio
radio wave
RAID
router
spectrum
terminal
ultrasound
ultraviolet radiation
virtual private network
VPN
white light
wide area network
workgroup
workstation
X-ray

Related Links

Qatar Flag
Qatar Flag The flags of Qatar and Bahrain are very similar, reflecting the countries' historical links. The proportions of the Qatari flag are unique. Effective date: c. 1949. >>

Advertorial

AdvertorialFind out how to buy the things you've always wanted and sell the things you don't on ebay.

Advertisement starts

Advertisement ends

More Links Within This Section

-->
encylopaedia

Page Footer

print now Print now send to a friend Send to a friend related articles Related articles related products Related products

Check shares

Check shares
Look up latest prices
more...

Best Loans

Best Loans
Search for the best rate.
more...

Dating

Dating
Find the love of your life
more...

TV guide

TV Guide
What's on the box?
more...
| Advertise | Press | Work at Tiscali | Site Map | Service Status | Help | Contact Us
© Tiscali 2008
IT | NET

Access keys


You will need to use different key combinations in order to use access keys depending on your internet browser, find out which on our accessibility page.
  • (0) Navigate to Accessibility page.
  • (1) Navigate to Home page.
  • (2) Navigate to My email.
  • (3) Navigate to My Account.
  • (4) Navigate to Site Map page.
  • (5) Navigate to Contact us page.
  • (6) Navigate to Members channel.
  • (7) Navigate to Services channel.
  • (8) Navigate to News & Info channel.
  • (9) Navigate to Entertainment channel.
  • ([) Skip down to the Primary navigation block.
  • (]) Skip down to the more links within this section block.
  • (=) Bypass all navigation and jump to the content.