**3. Optical fiber applications**

Regarding the advantages of optical fibers for the transmission of information and their multiple applications over existing methods such as those based on conductors such as copper, the following can be mentioned:


9.It is well known that the distances for transmission through the use of optical fiber are very long, more than 100 km without active or passive elements intervening, in addition to the obtained low attenuation.

Additionally, some disadvantages could have been found; perhaps one of the main ones is that optoelectronic devices that can be connected are expensive.

Comparing the emitting and receiving devices of electrical systems against those used with fiber-optic technology, this difference can be understood. That is why some companies still use electrical devices.

Considering the advantages, simplicity of manufacturing, as well as its versatility and growth in popularity, multiple technological applications and practical uses for optical fibers have been developed.

Some of the optical fiber applications which are not sensitive to electrical or magnetic interference make them highly recommended for military applications [18–20]. In addition there are different applications in industrial areas, such as sensing an ambient temperature, pressure, and gases or even wiring of automotive systems [21–24].

In the area of medicine, optical fibers are the modifications for laser surgery, such as light guides and tools for the transmission of images [25–28]. In the area of sciences, fiber-optic applications are very useful [21, 25]. In the manipulation of particles by means of optical tweezers, the optical fibers provide a great advantage [29].

In the subject of communications, the use of optical amplifiers has been outstanding over other applications. These optical amplifiers have been developed by manufacturing doped optical fibers with rare earth ions to have light amplification by stimulated emission [4, 30, 31]. **Table 2** shows some of the most common dopants, as well as the glass used as the host for their application.

In addition, systems with nonlinear behavior have been found. Among the results observed with the said nonlinear behavior in fiber doped with erbium (Er3+), there are behaviors with multistability, phenomenological dynamics, different sensors, and masking in communications, among others [14, 16, 23, 33–35].

As mentioned above, to improve all the possible applications in a fiber-optic system, the process of integration with optoelectronic devices is necessary.

This book offers a comprehensive review about the design, manufacturing, and performance obtained from the integration of fiber-optics with optoelectronic devices. In particular, it analyzes some of the advances in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, photodetectors, as well as applications in communication systems, sensors, interferometric, and holographic methods, which with the use of optical fiber strengthens the capacity and applications.


### **Table 2.**

*Common laser-active ions, host glasses, and important emission wavelength [32].*
