What is optical communication? This is probably the most easy-to-understand popular science
Use optical networks to spread information sent by everyone to all parts of the world.
The following introduces the technology that can quickly transmit massive amounts of information at one time.
Optical communication is a technology that uses light to transmit information to the other party.
Basic structure of optical communication
The computers and mobile phones around us send information through electrical signals "0 and 1".
Optical communication is composed of a "transmitter" that converts electrical signals into optical signals, a "receiver" that converts optical signals into electrical signals, and a circuit "optical fiber" that transmits light.
Advantages of optical communication
1. Long transmission distance, economical and energy-saving
2. Transfer massive amounts at one time Information
3. Fast communication speed
1) Long transmission distance, economical and energy-saving
Assuming that 10Gb of information (10 billion signals) needs to be transmitted in 1 second, if electrical communication is used, the signal must be adjusted every 100 meters.
Compared with this, using For optical communication, the adjustment interval can be more than 100 kilometers.
The fewer times the signal is adjusted, the fewer machines are used, so it is economical and energy-saving.
For example, when talking to friends abroad or chatting online, it feels the same as talking on the phone at home.
The sound does not lag like before.
In the era of only electrical communications, the distance that could be transmitted at one time was short and the amount of information transmitted was small. International communications were mainly transmitted through artificial satellites as relays.
However, using optical communication, the distance of one-time transmission is long and the amount of information transmitted is large. Therefore, by using optical fiber cables laid on the seabed, natural and smooth communication with overseas countries can be achieved.
(The speed of radio waves and light is the same.
However, because the transmission path becomes longer through satellites, the signal arrives slower.
The distance of submarine cables is short A lot, so the signal will be reached faster
style="padding: 0px 0px 15px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 14px; font-family: simsun, Arial; white-space: normal;"> 2) Transmit massive information at one time
A large number of users can receive the required information (movies or news, etc.) at the same time.
In 1 second, electrical communication can only transmit up to 10Gb (10 billion 0 and 1 signals) of information. In comparison, optical communication can transmit up to 1Tb (1 trillion 0 and 1 signals). 1 signal) information.
3) Fast communication speed
Electrical communication will cause errors due to electrical noise, resulting in a decrease in communication speed.
But , optical communication is not affected by noise, so signals can be transmitted quickly
