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glossary

Fiber optic: long cylindrical optical component guiding light
Single mode fiber optic: fiber optic enabling the propagation of only one transverse mode ( the fundamental mode )
Refraction index: for a transparent medium, ratio between the light speed in the air and the light speed in the medium ; for a reflective surface in the air or vacuum, the refraction index is « - 1 »
Core: central part of a fiber optic in which lightwaves are guided
Cladding ( fiber optic ): part of a fiber optic surrounding the core
Wavelength ( of a light wave ): distance between two consecutive identical states of the electric ( or magnetic ) field
Spatial mode: specific spatial distribution of the electromagnetic field in a plane perpendicular to the propagation axis of a light wave possibly emitted by a laser or possibly propagating in a waveguide ( like, for instance, a fiber optic ) - also called transverse mode