Important Fiber Optic Wavelengths

400 nm

Short wavelength limit of the visible spectrum (violet).

488 nm:

Wavelength of the Ar++ laser. Can be frequency doubled to produce 244 nm.

560 nm:

Centre wavelength of sunlight.

570 nm:

First transmission wavelength for plastic optical fiber.

650 nm:

Second transmission wavelength for plastic optical fiber.

700 nm:

Long wavelength limit of visible spectrum (red).

780 nm:

Wavelength of CD-ROM lasers increasingly used for short distance data communication.

800-950 nm:

First communications “window” for fiber transmission.

980 nm:

Pump wavelength for erbium.

1017 nm:

Pump wavelength for praseodymium.

1064 nm:

Pump wavelength for ytterbium.

1280-1350 nm:

Second communications “window” for fiber transmission.

1310 nm:

Zero dispersion wavelength of standard fiber.

1385 nm:

OH bond resonance absorption peak in fiber.

1480 nm:

Pump wavelength for erbium.

1510-1600 nm:

Third communications “window” for fiber transmission.

1535-1560 nm:

Amplification range of basic (first generation) EDFA.

10,400 nm:

Characteristic wavelength of CO² laser.