
Glossary
Tunable Laser Source
75
Glossary
AC
Alternating current
adapter
A device for coupling two connectors.
amplifier
A device used to boost the strength (dB level) of a signal.
amplitude
The distance between high and low points of a waveform or
signal.
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A
system used to represent letters, numbers, symbols, and
punctuation as bytes of binary signals.
ASE
Amplified Spontaneous Emission. Light emitted from the
decay of the upper level of a lasing transition without
stimulated emission. In general, this emission is spectrally
broad and unpolarized.
attenuation
The diminution of average optical power. Attenuation results
from absorption, scattering, and other radiation losses.
Attenuation is generally expressed in dB without a negative
sign.
attenuation
coefficient
A factor expressing attenuation per unit length, expressed in
dB/km.
attenuator
An optical device, either fixed or adjustable, that reduces the
intensity of light propagating through it.
axis of birefringence
One of two generally orthogonal orientations transverse to
the fiber core corresponding to fast and slow propagation of
the group velocity of a light beam. In general, these
orientations are elliptical and the orientation and amplitude
vary along the fiber. In the special case of a HiBi fiber, the
axes are linear and constant along the length of the fiber.
B
fib
Fiber bandwidth, normally dependent on carrier wavelength
and fiber length.
B
opt
Optical bandwidth
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com