Stream attenuation refers to the reduction or loss of signal strength, intensity, or quality as a signal (such as light, sound, or electromagnetic waves) travels through a medium, such as a fiber optic cable, water, or air. In the context of communication systems, like fiber optics, it describes how much the signal weakens over distance due to absorption, scattering, or other physical effects.
For example, in fiber optics, stream attenuation is the decrease in signal strength as light travels along the fiber due to factors like absorption of light by the fiber material, scattering of light by imperfections, and bending losses. It is typically measured in decibels (dB) per unit length, such as dB/km, and is a key parameter in designing communication networks.
In a broader sense, stream attenuation can apply to any scenario where a wave or signal is transmitted through a medium, and the medium causes some form of signal degradation.
