What was Charles K. Kao's approach to developing optical fibers?
We must think in terms of systems. My approach was to break down the problem of long-distance communication. Instead of relying solely on electrical signals through metal wires, which have their own limitations, I focused on light and its properties. The challenge was twofold: generating a suitable light source and, crucially, creating a transmission medium that wouldn't degrade the signal. The key is to reduce the loss in the medium. This required understanding the physics of dielectric waveguides and the material science of glass to achieve the necessary purity. Patience and persistence are essential when dealing with such fundamental material challenges.
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