Optical Fibers

Abstract

This chapter describes the waveguiding properties of optical fibers, with emphasis on the single-mode fibers used in optical communications. After examining modal behavior and attenuation processes, the dispersive propagation of ultrashort pulses is treated in some detail. A section is dedicated to the description of several different types of fibers and their properties, followed by a presentation of some fiber components, such as fiber couplers and fiber mirrors, which play an important role in the setup of fiber sensors and active fiber devices. The last two sections specifically deal with the active devices, such as fiber amplifiers and fiber lasers.