What is the primary purpose of the cladding in a fiber-optic cable?

The primary purpose of the cladding in a fiber-optic cable is to guide light down the fiber. The cladding is a layer surrounding the core of the fiber, which has a lower refractive index than the core. This difference in refractive indices is crucial as it enables total internal reflection, allowing light signals to be efficiently transmitted through the core over long distances without significant loss of signal strength.

By reflecting the light back into the core, the cladding ensures that signals remain contained within the fiber, rather than escaping into the surrounding environment. This property is essential for the high-performance capabilities of fiber optics, as it facilitates the conveyance of data at high speeds with minimal attenuation. Understanding the function of the cladding is key to grasping how fiber-optic technology operates and contributes to advancements in telecommunications and data transmission.