What principle allows light to be transmitted through fiber optics?

The principle that allows light to be transmitted through fiber optics is total internal reflection. This phenomenon occurs when light travels from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index at an angle greater than the critical angle. In fiber optics, the core of the fiber has a higher refractive index compared to the outer cladding, which facilitates this total internal reflection. As light enters the fiber at the correct angle, it bounces off the core-cladding boundary, allowing it to travel long distances with minimal loss of intensity. This is essential for applications where data integrity and speed are crucial, as it enables effective transmission of information over optical fibers.

Refraction, while related to how light bends as it passes from one material to another, does not describe the method by which light is contained within the fiber. Diffraction refers to the bending of light waves around obstacles and openings, which is different from the behavior of light in fibers. Transmission loss is a factor in determining the efficiency of light transmission since it describes the reduction in signal strength but does not explain the mechanism that enables light to be guided through fiber cables.