Which of the following is not one of the three Cs of an optical fiber?

Which of the following is not one of the three Cs of an optical fiber?

• A. Buffer
• B. Core
• C. Cladding
• D. Coating

Answer: (A)

The three Cs describe the parts that affect light guiding: core, cladding, and coating. The core is the central glass where light travels; the cladding surrounds the core with a lower refractive index to keep light confined by total internal reflection; the coating is a protective polymer layer applied to the glass to protect it and control its mechanical properties. The buffer, while a protective layer used during manufacturing and handling, isn’t part of the guiding structure. So it’s the buffer that isn’t one of the three Cs.

The three Cs describe the parts that affect light guiding: core, cladding, and coating. The core is the central glass where light travels; the cladding surrounds the core with a lower refractive index to keep light confined by total internal reflection; the coating is a protective polymer layer applied to the glass to protect it and control its mechanical properties. The buffer, while a protective layer used during manufacturing and handling, isn’t part of the guiding structure. So it’s the buffer that isn’t one of the three Cs.