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Fiber Bundles
Frequently Asked Questions
An optical fiber bundle is a collection of multiple thin optical fibers that are bundled together to transmit light signals for illumination, visualization or other applications.
Fiber bundles are comprised of glass or plastic optical fibers, an adhesive (typically UV acrylics) that keeps the fibers glued together, and a jacket or housing that protects the bundle from the surrounding environment.
Fiber bundles are widely used in medical imaging, notably in endoscopes. Unlike single fibers, fiber bundles can transmit images and are thus great for imaging objects. They are also commonly used in optical communication networks as dividers and splitters that split the source into different channels. In fact, all submarine or cross-continental communication is supported by fiber bundles. They can also be found in laser machining applications as they can handle large power levels.
Optical fiber bundles are often classified as coherent or incoherent. When the fibers at both ends of the fiber follow the same ordering, the bundle is called coherent or ordered. Otherwise, they are referred to as incoherent or unordered.
The difference in spatial ordering of the single fibers in fiber bundles makes them suitable for different applications. Coherent or ordered fiber bundles are able to image an object while incoherent or unordered fiber bundles can only transmit light without preserving an image. In other words, they are used for illumination only.
Fiber bundles are known for being able to transmit wavelengths ranging from the UV to the IR.
While both copper cables and optical fiber cable bundle can transfer data, optical fiber bundles are more advantageous. Optical fiber bundles can transmit larger bandwidth data over much larger distances and with minimal loss. Moreover, unlike copper cables, they do not suffer from electromagnetic interference which leads to the modification or the loss of the signal.
The cross-section of fiber bundles is typically hexagonal as it is the best way to increase the packaging density and pack more fiber together within the same radius. This arrangement can also reduce cross-talk between the individual fibers which is defined as the power oscillating back and forth between the fibers.
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