What function does cladding perform in fiber optics?

Cladding plays a crucial role in fiber optics by facilitating reflection, which is essential for the transmission of light through the fiber. The core of the optical fiber, which is typically made of glass or plastic, carries the light signals. Surrounding this core is the cladding, which has a lower refractive index than the core. This difference in refractive indices allows light that is transmitted through the core to be reflected back into the core when it hits the boundary between the core and cladding at the critical angle.

This internal reflection ensures that the light signals can travel long distances with minimal loss of signal strength. It essentially keeps the light contained within the core and prevents it from escaping into the surrounding environment. Hence, cladding is vital for maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of fiber optic communication systems by ensuring that data can be transmitted over long distances without significant degradation.

While cladding does contribute indirectly to aspects like durability by protecting the core, its primary function in the context of fiber optics is to enable effective light reflection, which is crucial for signal transmission.