Page 18 - Flipped book_fiber optics

DEFINITION OF LOSS/ATTENUATION

The other common term used synonymously for optical attenuation.

Optical loss is measured in decibels or dB.

Attenuation also known as the reduction of the optical signal

intensity over a length of optical fibre or components. Attenuation is

normally measured in two instances:

Fibre attenuation is normally measured per unit length in decibels

per kilometers (dB/km) which due to absorption and scattering.

Individual component attenuation (in dB loss) for splitters/couplers,

WDMs, connectors, both mechanical and fusion splices, etc.