Optical fibres

Optical fibres are currently finding uses in a great many diverse areas such as communications, lighting, imaging and optical sensors. Basically they provide a means of carrying light between two points via a flexible secure medium. The purpose of this article is to explain how they operate, to show how they fit in with some of the applications mentioned above and finally to describe some simple circuitry and equipment which may be used to investigate the properties of fibres and which could be made the basis of more advanced projects.