OPTICAL FIBER CONSTRUCTION
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The above paragraphs are reproduced by permission TECHNICIAN’S GUIDE TO FIBER OPTICS 2E (PAGES 40, 44)
By Donald J Sterling, Jr. - DELMAR PUBLISHERS, INC., Albany, New York, Copyright 1993
The optical fiber has two concentric layers called the
core and the cladding. The inner core is the light-
carrying part. The surrounding cladding provides
the difference in the refractive index that allows total
internal reflection of light through the core. The fiber
usually has an additional coating around the
cladding. The coating, which is usually one or more
layers of polymer, protects the core and cladding
from shock that might affect their optical or physical
properties. Figure 2E shows the cross-section of an
optical cable.
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Core
Cladding
Jacket
Figure 2E
