Which material is commonly used to manufacture the core of optical fibers?

The core of optical fibers is predominantly made from glass due to its excellent optical properties, which allow for efficient transmission of light. Glass fibers have a high refractive index, which is essential for total internal reflection, the principle that enables light to travel through the fiber with minimal loss. This material also provides the necessary durability and resistance to environmental factors, making it suitable for various applications in telecommunication, data transmission, and networking.

While plastic can be used in some specialty optical fibers, particularly in multimode fibers or where lightweight materials are necessary, it does not generally match the performance of glass fibers in terms of signal loss and transmission distance. Copper is not used for the core of optical fibers since it is a conductor of electricity, not light, and is mainly used in traditional electrical wiring rather than optical applications. Silicon is a semiconductor material used primarily in electronics, but it is not suitable for the core of optical fibers due to its inappropriate optical characteristics.