Difference between Laser Light Source and LED Light Source

As the wide application of fiber optic system, optical

light source plays a more and more important part in
it. We known a basic optical fiber system consists of a
transmitter, an optical fiber and a receiver. The fiber
optic light source, as an important component of the
transmitter is modulated by a suitable drive circuit in
accordance with the signals to be transmitted. Optical
light source are also needed for performing fiber optic
network testing to measure the fiber optic loss in the
cable plant. Light source are offered in a variety of
types including LED, halogen and laser. Among which,
LED

and

Laser

light

source

are

two

types

of

semiconductor light sources. The following article will

discuss about some differences between laser and Led
light source.
Basically, both kind of light source must be able to
turn on and off millions to billions of times per second
while projecting a near microscopic beam of light into
an optical fiber. During the working process of optical

signals, they are both supposed to be switched on and

off rapidly and accurately enough to properly transmit
the signals.
General

difference

between them as that

LEDS is the standard light source which is short for
light-emitting diodes. Laser light source like gas lasers
may be mainly used in some special cases. Lasers are
more powerful and operate at faster speeds than
LEDs, and they can also transmit light farther with
fewer errors. Laser are also much more expensive
than LEDs.
LED fiber optic light source are made of materials that
influence the wavelengths of light that are emitted. A
basic LED light source is a semiconductor diode with a
p region and an n region. When the LED is forward
biased, current flows through the LED. As current flows
through the LED, the junction where the p and n
regions meet emits random photons. LEDs emitting in
the window of 820 to 870 nm are usually gallium
aluminum

arsenide

(GaAIAs).

Laser

is

also

semiconductor diode with a p and an n region like LED,

but it provide stimulated emission rather than the
simplex spontaneous emission of LEDs. The main
difference between a LED and a laser is that the laser
has an optical cavity required for lasting. The cavity is
formed by cleaving the opposite end of the chip to
form highly parallel, reflective, mirror like finishes.
VCSEL is a popular laser source for high speed
networking,

which

consist

of

two

oppositely

oppositely-doped Distributed Bragg Reflectors (DBR)

with a cavity layer. It combines high bandwidth with
low cost and is an ideal choice for the gigabit
networking options.
Different

wavelengths

travel

through

fiber

at

different velocities as a result of material dispersion.

What should always keep in mind is that both Laser
and LED will not emit a single wavelength, but a range
of wavelength that is known as the spectral width of
the source. Fiber optic light source is always works
with the fiber optic power meter. During the working
process, it collimated beams of light and aim right
down the center of the narrow single mode core and

propagates in essentially a single mode transmission.

By more questions about fiber optic test equipment,
such

as

visual

fault

locators,

optical

meter,OTDR testers,fiber identifier,and more.

View: www.fibercasa.com
for more information

power