Other uses
Light reflected from optical fiber illuminates exhibited model
Optical fibers have a wide number of applications. They are used as light guides in medical and other applications where bright light needs to be shone on a target without a clear line-of-sight path. In some buildings, optical fibers route sunlight from the roof to other parts of the building (see nonimaging optics). Optical fiber lamps are used for illumination in decorative applications, including signs, art, toys and artificial Christmas trees. Swarovski boutiques use optical fibers to illuminate their crystal showcases from many different angles while only employing one light source. Optical fiber is an intrinsic part of the light-transmitting concrete building product, LiTraCon.
Optical fiber is also used in imaging optics. A coherent bundle of
fibers is used, sometimes along with lenses, for a long, thin imaging
device called an endoscope,
which is used to view objects through a small hole. Medical endoscopes
are used for minimally invasive exploratory or surgical procedures.
Industrial endoscopes (see fiberscope or borescope) are used for inspecting anything hard to reach, such as jet engine interiors. Many microscopes use fiber-optic light sources to provide intense illumination of samples being studied.
In spectroscopy,
optical fiber bundles transmit light from a spectrometer to a substance
that cannot be placed inside the spectrometer itself, in order to
analyze its composition. A spectrometer analyzes substances by bouncing
light off and through them. By using fibers, a spectrometer can be used
to study objects remotely.[35][36][37]
An optical fiber doped with certain rare earth elements such as erbium can be used as the gain medium of a laser or optical amplifier. Rare-earth-doped optical fibers can be used to provide signal amplification by splicing a short section of doped fiber into a regular (undoped) optical fiber line. The doped fiber is optically pumped
with a second laser wavelength that is coupled into the line in
addition to the signal wave. Both wavelengths of light are transmitted
through the doped fiber, which transfers energy from the second pump
wavelength to the signal wave. The process that causes the amplification
is stimulated emission.
Optical fiber is also widely exploited as a nonlinear medium. The
glass medium supports a host of nonlinear optical interactions, and the
long interaction lengths possible in fiber facilitate a variety of
phenomena, which are harnessed for applications and fundamental
investigation.[38]
Conversely, fiber nonlinearity can have deleterious effects on optical
signals, and measures are often required to minimize such unwanted
effects.
Optical fibers doped with a wavelength shifter collect scintillation light in physics experiments.
Fiber optic sights for handguns, rifles, and shotguns use pieces of optical fiber to improve visibility of markings on the sight.
A frisbee illuminated by fiber optics
Use of optical fiber in a decorative lamp or nightlight.
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