Dispersion
The temporal spreading of a pulse in an optical waveguide. May be caused by modal or chromatic effects.
Any phenomenon in which the velocity of propagation of an electromagnetic wave is wavelength dependent. Note 1: In communication technology, "dispersion" is used to describe any process by which an electromagnetic signal propagating in a physical medium is degraded because the various wave components (i.e., frequencies) of the signal have different propagation velocities within the physical medium. Note 2: In an optical fiber, there are several significant dispersion effects, such as material dispersion, profile dispersion, and waveguide dispersion, that degrade the signal. Note 3: In optical fiber communications, the incorrect terms "multimode dispersion" and "intermodal dispersion" should not be used as synonyms for the correct term "multimode distortion." Note 4: In classical optics, "dispersion" is used to denote the wavelength dependence of refractive index in matter, (dn/d , where n is the refractive index and is the wavelength) caused by interaction between the matter and light. "Dispersion," as used in fiber optic communications, should not be confused with "dispersion" as used by optical lens designers. Note 5: Three types of dispersion, relating to optical fibers, are material dispersion, profile dispersion, and waveguide dispersion.
View more information on Dispersion.
To learn more about Dispersion, you can submit us a web request, or call Timbercon today, 1-800-221-6992, to get in contact with our experienced sales engineers.
Related glossary terms:
Modal Dispersion Intermodal Dispersion Profile Dispersion Dispersion Management Minimum Dispersion Window Material Dispersion Dispersion Unshifted Fiber Non Zero Dispersion Shifted Fiber Zero Dispersion Slope Waveguide Dispersion
Search more fiber optic glossary terms:
External links for definition of Dispersion:
Search Dispersion on Wikipedia
Search Dispersion on Google
Search Dispersion on Yahoo!
Search Dispersion on Answers
Search Dispersion on The Free Dictionary
Suggestions? The Timbercon fiber optic glossary continues to expand and improve. If you have suggestions for improvement, we would enjoy hearing from you. Please contact the
webmaster here.
