Final answer:
Fiber optic links consist of optical fibers with a core and cladding that use total internal reflection to transmit light efficiently for data communication, offering high bandwidth and low loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The components in a fiber optic link include the optical fibers themselves, which are thin strands of glass or plastic designed to carry light.
Each fiber has a core that carries the light and is surrounded by a cladding material with a lower index of refraction that prevents light from escaping, ensuring total internal reflection. The fibers are covered by an additional protective layer to ensure durability. These optical fibers enable high-bandwidth and low-loss transmission of data with reduced crosstalk, meaning that optical signals in one fiber do not create interference in adjacent fibers. This technology is widely used for telephone, internet, and cable TV signal transmission due to its efficiency, especially over long distances.