Fibre optics manufacturing. Reel of optical fibres at a factory. Optical fibres are thin glass wires, and consist of a glass core and an outer glass c

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Fibre optics manufacturing. Reel of optical fibres at a factory. Optical fibres are thin glass wires, and consist of a glass core and an outer glass cladding. On top of this is a protective plastic layer, seen here. Total internal reflection of light at the core/cladding boundary allows data to be transmitted over long distances with little information loss. Over 300 kilometres of optical fibres can be produced from a single glass rod. This reel of optical fibres has been produced by the Alcatel company, in Douvrin, France. This company produces around 400,000 kilometres of optical fibres a year.

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Size: 5198px × 3425px
Photo credit: © PATRICK LANDMANN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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