If `mu_(1) and mu_(2)` are the refractive indices of the material of core and cladding respectively of an optical fiber, then

Options

A. `mu_(1) gt mu_(2)`
B. `mu_(1) lt mu_(2)`
C. `mu_(1) = mu_(2)`
D. `mu_(1) le mu_(2)`

Answer

To solve the question regarding the relationship between the refractive indices of the core and cladding of an optical fiber, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Structure of Optical Fiber**:
- An optical fiber consists of a core and a cladding. The core is the central part through which light travels, and the cladding surrounds the core.

2. **Identify Refractive Indices**:
- Let \( \mu_1 \) be the refractive index of the core.
- Let \( \mu_2 \) be the refractive index of the cladding.

3. **Total Internal Reflection**:
- For light to be transmitted efficiently through the optical fiber, it must undergo total internal reflection at the core-cladding boundary. This phenomenon occurs when light travels from a denser medium to a rarer medium.

4. **Determine the Relationship**:
- In optical fibers, the core (with refractive index \( \mu_1 \)) must be denser than the cladding (with refractive index \( \mu_2 \)). This means that:
\[ \mu_1 > \mu_2 \]
- Therefore, the refractive index of the cladding must be less than that of the core:
\[ \mu_2 < \mu_1 \]

5. **Conclusion**:
- The correct relationship between the refractive indices of the core and cladding of an optical fiber is:
\[ \mu_2 < \mu_1 \]