What does 'signal dispersion' imply in fiber optics?

Signal dispersion in fiber optics refers to the phenomenon where light pulses spread out or broaden as they travel along the fiber. This is primarily due to the different speeds at which various wavelengths of light travel through the fiber, as well as factors like modal dispersion, where different light modes travel at different speeds.

As a result, the original shape of the light pulse becomes distorted over long distances, which can lead to overlapping pulses and reduced clarity of the transmitted signal. This broadening affects the system's ability to accurately transmit data, especially in high-speed communication where closely spaced signals are crucial. Understanding signal dispersion is vital for designing effective fiber optic communication systems and mitigating its effects through techniques like using dispersion-shifted fibers or signal regeneration.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of signal dispersion as they either focus on unrelated aspects of fiber optics or present concepts that are not inherently connected to the dispersion of light signals within the fiber.