Certified Fiber Optics Practice Exam

In accordance with the ISO/IEC 1801 specifications, which light source was designed for use with OM1 and OM2 fibers?

1. Laser

2. LED

3. Incandescent bulb

4. Fiber laser

The correct answer is: LED

The light source that was specifically designed for use with OM1 and OM2 fibers, as per ISO/IEC 1801 specifications, is the LED (Light Emitting Diode). OM1 and OM2 multimode fibers are typically used for short-range network applications, and they are optimized for operation with LED light sources. LEDs provide the necessary modal bandwidth and sufficient power coupling into the core of the fiber for these types of fibers. They emit light with a broad wavelength spectrum and are cost-effective and reliable for short-distance communication. This makes them an ideal choice for applications where high-speed data transmission over limited distances is essential. In contrast, other light sources such as lasers may perform better over longer distances and in higher bandwidth applications, but they are not typically paired with OM1 and OM2 fibers due to their different modal properties and coupling requirements. Incandescent bulbs are not used in fiber optics due to their broad spectrum of light, which is inefficient for fiber transmission, and fiber lasers are specialized sources used in specific applications that require high intensity and precision, rather than for general multimode fiber use.