What type of light is commonly used in fiber optics?

Laser light is commonly used in fiber optics due to its unique properties that make it ideal for transmitting data over long distances with minimal loss. Lasers emit coherent light, which means the light waves are in phase and maintain a constant frequency, leading to a focused beam that can travel through the fiber without significant dispersion. This coherence allows for higher data rates and improved signal integrity, making lasers suitable for high-performance applications such as telecommunications and data networking.

While LED light serves as another source for fiber optics, it generally has a broader spectrum and lacks the coherence of laser light, which can limit its effectiveness over long distances. Incoherent light, such as from incandescent bulbs, also does not maintain the same phase relationship as laser light, resulting in more spreading of the light that can degrade the signal in fiber. Ultraviolet light is not typically used in fiber optics because it can cause damage to the fiber material itself and is unsuitable for standard communication purposes. Thus, laser light is preferred for its efficiency and performance in fiber optic applications.