Glossary

Chapter 1 From RF to Optical Fibers

Media: The substance through which electromagnetic waves are propagated. Through the-air radio or optical waves use the atmosphere as a media.
Radio frequency (RF): Electromagnetic waves in the frequency range from 10 kilohertz to 300 gigahertz.
Electromagnetic waves (EM): Propagation of energy made possible by two field components, electric (E) and magnetic (H), acting in concert. Characterized by frequency, wavelength, velocity, and E-field polarization.
Photonics: technologies or components specifically developed to use wavelengths in the range of 1 micron (300 terahertz). Similar to use of electronics to describe electrical circuits.
Photon: A quantum or particle of light energy used to explain the ability of a light wave to displace eleetrons in a detector, thus creating a current. Characterized by energy and momentum.
Wavelength: The distance between repeating values of a propagating EM wave. The wavelength is equal to the velocity of propagation divided by the frequency.
Silica: The compound silicon dioxide ( ??O ₂). In purified form it is the most common ingredient used to make optical fibers.
Dispersion: Dependency of speed of propagation on frequency (wavelength). A signal with multiple spectral frequencies will suffer distortion because of dispersion because of the differing delays in arrival time.
Index of refraction: Describes the bending or refracting of light at the interface between two different substances. Equal to the ratio of the speed of propagation in a vacuum to that in the substance. Normally expressed relative to a vacuum, equals the square root of...

< Previous Excerpt

Purchase This Book

Optical Fibers and RF: A Natural Combination

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Glossary

Chapter 1 From RF to Optical Fibers

Contact Preferences

This is embarrasing...

Customize Your GlobalSpec Experience

Select Your Free Newsletters

Industry Newsletters

Select Your Free Product Alerts

This is embarrasing...