Which factor is NOT a major influence on optical fiber performance?

Optical fiber performance is influenced by several key factors that determine how effectively light can travel through the fiber. Core diameter, fiber length, and wavelength of operation are all critical aspects that significantly affect the fiber’s ability to transmit data.

Core diameter is essential because it determines the amount of light that can be captured and transmitted. A larger core diameter may allow for more light to enter and can affect the modal dispersion in multimode fibers. This is particularly important for maintaining signal integrity over distance.

Fiber length influences performance because the longer the fiber, the greater the likelihood of signal attenuation and distortion due to scattering and absorption. As the signal travels through the fiber, it may weaken, which can impact the quality and reliability of data transmission.

The wavelength of operation is crucial because each type of fiber is optimized for a specific range of wavelengths. The refractive properties of the fiber materials change with different wavelengths, which affects how well the light can be transmitted without loss. The choice of wavelength impacts performance in terms of bandwidth and reach.

While external temperature can impact the performance of optical fibers, particularly over time or in extreme conditions, it is not considered a major influence in the same way as the other factors listed. Changes in temperature may affect the physical properties of the fiber