SM and MM Glass Fiber

125 µm

diameter

glass fiber

Refractive

index, n

?n=2%

n=1.5

Refractive

index, n

?n=0.35%

n=1.5

Light travels faster at edge

of core to minimize modal

dispersion resulting from

different light paths (modes)

62.5 µm diameter graded refractive

index fiber core

Different light paths (multi-mode)

10 µm diameter step refractive

index fiber core

Single light path (single mode)

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