In telecommunications, reflection loss occurs on a line which results in part of the energy being reflected back to the source. This can occur:
- At a discontinuity or impedance mismatch, e.g. in a transmission line, the ratio of the incident power to the reflected power. Reflection loss is usually expressed in dB.
- In an optical fiber, the loss that takes place at any discontinuity of refractive index, especially at an air-glass interface such as a fiber endface, at which a fraction of the optical signal is reflected back toward the source. This reflection phenomenon is also called "Fresnel reflection loss," or simply "Fresnel loss."
Famous quotes containing the words reflection and/or loss:
“There are three principal means of acquiring knowledge available to us: observation of nature, reflection, and experimentation. Observation collects facts; reflection combines them; experimentation verifies the result of that combination. Our observation of nature must be diligent, our reflection profound, and our experiments exact. We rarely see these three means combined; and for this reason, creative geniuses are not common.”
—Denis Diderot (17131784)
“Claudio. The old ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis-balls.
Leonato. Indeed, he looks younger than he did, by the loss of a beard.”
—William Shakespeare (15641616)