What is the Diameter of the Fiber Core?
The diameter of a fiber core depends on the type of fiber.
Multimode fibers have larger core diameters to accommodate multiple light paths. Common sizes include:
- 62.5 microns: Often found in older installations as OM1 (62.5/125 µm).
- 50 microns: Used in more modern multimode applications like OM2, OM3, and OM4 (50/125 µm).
- Other sizes exist, ranging from 7µm to 3mm, but 50µm and 62.5µm are the most prevalent in the industry. Examples include 100µm and 200µm cores, and specialized fibers even reaching 150µm core diameter.
Single-Mode Fiber
Single-mode fibers have much smaller cores to support only a single light path, resulting in better signal transmission over long distances. The standard core diameter is:
- 9 microns: While some sources mention a slightly smaller diameter of approximately 8.3 microns, 9 microns is widely accepted as the standard.
Summary Table
| Fiber Type | Core Diameter (µm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multimode | 50, 62.5, 100, 150, 200, and others up to 3000 | Various subtypes exist (OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4) |
| Single-mode | 9 | Provides better signal transmission over long distances |
The provided references confirm these diameters, with variations noted depending on the specific fiber type and application. For example, while 9µm is the standard for single mode fibers, some specialized single-mode fibers may have slightly different core diameters. Similarly, multimode fibers come in a wider range of core sizes beyond the most commonly used values.
