Browse By Letter

Search engineering dictionary:

Definition:

Fiber Optics

Fiber optics is the term applied to the study and application of optical fibers in many different applications. Fiber optics makes use of transparent fibers that are capable of transmitting light over long distances, at high bandwidths and with limited signal loss. Fiber optics is guided by the scientific principle of refraction, or the bending of light, first seen experimentally in the 1840's. Practical applications of fiber optics began to appear in the early 1900's and can not be found in engineering sensors, communications, lighting, and media applications.