Single mode fiber (SMF) is a type of optical fiber that allows only one mode of light to propagate through its core. This means that the light travels in a single, straight line, with minimal dispersion or scattering.
Here's how it works:
- Small Core: SMF has a much smaller core diameter than multimode fiber, typically around 9 microns. This small core restricts the light to a single path, ensuring that it travels in a straight line.
- Single Wavelength: SMF is designed to transmit light at a specific wavelength, typically 1310nm or 1550nm. This ensures that only one wavelength of light is present in the fiber, minimizing interference and ensuring signal integrity.
- Minimal Dispersion: Due to the single mode of propagation, SMF experiences minimal dispersion, which is the spreading of light pulses as they travel through the fiber. This allows for higher data rates and longer transmission distances.
- Lower Attenuation: SMF has lower attenuation than multimode fiber, meaning that the signal degrades less over long distances. This allows for longer transmission distances with minimal signal loss.
Benefits of using SMF:
- Higher Bandwidth: SMF can support higher data rates than multimode fiber, making it ideal for high-speed applications like Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet.
- Longer Distances: SMF can transmit data over longer distances than multimode fiber, making it suitable for long-haul networks.
- Improved Signal Quality: The single mode of propagation and minimal dispersion in SMF result in a cleaner signal with less noise and interference.
Examples of SMF applications:
- Long-haul telecommunications networks
- Data centers
- High-performance computing systems
In contrast to multimode, single-mode fiber cable has only one mode of propagation: a single wavelength of light in the fibre core. This means there's no interference or overlap between the different wavelengths of light to garble your data over long distances like there is with multimode cable.
