Types of Fiber optics

Fiber optics is mainly divided into two types.

1. Single-mode
2. Multi-mode

before discussing these two, it is important to know what is a mode. A mode is a possible path our angle using which light can be sent into a fiber. In other words it can thought of as a light ray passing through the fiber optics.

So by this definition, the single-mode fiber is a fiber which only allows one mode to propagate through its core while on the other hand the multi-mode fiber supports multiple modes in its core. they will off course be travelling at different angles.

Single-mode has a core diameter of 8 to 10 microns (micrometer), while multi-mode has a core diameter of 50 or 62.5 micron. in fact this bigger diameter helps multi-mode to support more than one modes.

then there is another majod difference between single-mode and multi-mode. The wavelengths supported by single-mode are from 1310nm upto 1625nm and those supported by multi-mode are from 850nm to 1300nm.

Single-mode is normally used for longer distances and multi-mode is used for shorter distances.