Narinder Singh Kapany & the Invention of Optical Fibers
Born: 31 October 1926, Moga, Punjab, India
Education: PhD in Optics from Imperial College, University of London
Key Discovery (1954-55): Kapany demonstrated that light could travel through bent glass fibers, proving earlier assumptions wrong.
Coined the term “Fiber Optics” in 1960, bringing global attention to the technology.
A thin, flexible strand of glass or plastic that transmits light signals over long distances with minimal loss.
Works on the principle of Total Internal Reflection (TIR), ensuring efficient data transmission.
Telecommunications – Internet, cable TV, and telephone networks.
Medical Field – Endoscopy, laser surgeries, and imaging techniques.
Computing & Data Transmission – High-speed data networks.
Defense & Aerospace – Secure communication, radar, and sensing technologies.
Industrial & Scientific Use – Sensors, imaging systems, and automation.
Recognized as one of the “Unsung Heroes of the 20th Century” by Fortune magazine (1999).
Founded several fiber optics companies and contributed to research in photonics.
Inducted into the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2021.