What is the term for the spreading of light pulses due to different paths taken through the fiber?

The term that describes the spreading of light pulses due to different paths taken through the fiber is modal dispersion. This phenomenon occurs in multimode fibers where light travels through multiple modes, or paths, within the fiber. Each mode can have a different distance or time of travel, causing the light pulses to spread out over time and potentially leading to distortion of the signal.

In contrast, chromatic dispersion relates to the different speeds of light wavelengths traveling through the fiber, which affects the entire spectrum of light rather than the individual paths. Scattering deals with the random redirection of light due to imperfections or particles within the fiber, while reflection pertains to the bouncing back of light at the boundaries of materials, which doesn't directly cause the spreading of pulses in the same way that modal dispersion does. Understanding modal dispersion is crucial for maintaining signal integrity in multimode fiber optic communication.