What does "polarity reversal" refer to in fiber optics?

"Polarity reversal" in fiber optics refers to the scenario where the orientation of fiber pairs is incorrect. This is significant because in a fiber optic system, proper alignment of transmit and receive fibers is crucial for ensuring that signals are accurately transmitted and received. When polarity is reversed, the light signals intended to transmit from one fiber will end up in the wrong fiber, leading to degraded or lost communication.

In more detail, each color or pair of fibers in a fiber optic cable has a specific role in transmitting data. If the orientation is flipped — that is, if the transmission and receiving fibers are swapped — it is termed polarity reversal, leading to communication issues. Understanding this concept is essential for installers to ensure that the system functions correctly and efficiently.

The other options discuss orientations and methods that are either correct or incorrect but do not adequately capture the specific nuance of "polarity reversal" which is fundamentally about the incorrect pairing that disrupts signal transmission.