The history and development of fiber optic communication technology

History Of Fiber Optics

The science of fiber optics centers on the transmission of information via light through transparent fibers. This paper explores the history of fiber optics. Included in the discussion is an overview of how fiber optics is used for communication and data transfer. Lastly, the benefits and disadvantages of this technology will be presented.

History of Fiber Optics and its Use for Communication and Data Transfer

Although fiber optics seems to be a wonder of the last few decades, optical communication systems got their start more than two centuries ago. In the 1790s, French engineer Claude Chappe invented the 'optical telegraph'. Chappe's system used a series of semaphores that were mounted on towers, with human operators relaying messages between the towers. However, as Hayes (2005) notes, by the mid-19th century, the electric telegraph had taken over the messaging industry. In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell patented the Photophone, an optical telephone system. The telephone proved to be more practical and the Photophone never became popular.

New technology in the 19th century, based on total internal reflection, would be the technology needed to develop optical transmission of information. Swiss physicist, Daniel Collodon, and French physicist, Jacques Babinet, demonstrated how light could follow jets of water in fountains, in the 1840s. According to Hayes (2005), optical fibers were a critical leap forward in the development of fiber optics. These transparent rods of plastic or glass were patented in the 1920s by Clarence Hansell in the United States and John Logie Baird in England. These were used to transmit television or facsimilie system images. However it wasn't until 1930 that a German medical student, Heinrich Lamm, demonstrated transmitting an image through a bundle of optical fibers inside a body. Jewish, Lamm was forced to move to America as Nazis came into power, and he had to abandon his plans to become a professor of medicine.

The mid 20th century saw continued development in fiber technology. Most development focused on purifying the compound glass that was used for standard optics. In 1970, Corning Glass Works scientists would make a breakthrough for fiber optic technology. They used fused silica for their fibers, resulting in reduced fiber loss. The team of Robert Maurer, Donald Keck and Peter Schultz led to even greater improvements in the technology, including improved manufacturing methods and shifting to longer wavelengths to further improve attenuation (Hayes, 2005)

Today, communication and data transfer is typically conducted with infrared light. The light waves are generated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) ("Fibre," 2009). To give the least attenuation, wavelengths of 1.3 to 1.6 micrometers are used. If transmission needs to be made more than a few kilometers, semiconductor lasers are employed to boost the light wave strength ("Laser," 2009).

Conclusion

Fiber optics has come a long way since its beginning in the 1790s. Many people were involved in the technological advancements that have brought the technology to today's abilities. Although fiber optics is continuing to increase in popularity, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to its use for communication and data transfer. Fiber optics allows for greater capacity. It has enhanced signal reliability. Fiber optics also is considerably smaller in size and weight than its copper counterparts. Disadvantages though include cost, its relative inflexibility and the difficulty and expense in repairs, when compared to copper wiring. However, as the technology continues to improve, and costs continue to lower, it is only a matter of time before most of the telecommunications infrastructure is replaced with fiber optics.