Lexicon - M

MAN
Metropolitan area network

Mechanical splice
A semi-permanent connection between two fibers made with an alignment device and index matching fluid or adhesive

Microbending
Microbendings are small geometric defects between core and cladding. They result in higher order modes and therefore additional attenuation.

Mode
A single electromagnetic field pattern that travels in fiber.

Multi-fiber loose tube
Several fibers held without tension in one tube.

Multimode fiber
An optical waveguide in which light travels in multiple modes. Typical core / cladding sizes (measured in microns) are 50/125, 62.5/125 and 100/140.