Editing Optical attenuator (section)

==Principles of operation==
The power reduction is done by such means as absorption, reflection, diffusion, scattering, deflection, diffraction, and dispersion, etc. Optical attenuators usually work by absorbing the light, like [[sunglasses]] absorb extra light energy. They typically have a working wavelength range in which they absorb all light energy equally. They should not reflect the light or scatter the light in an air gap, since that could cause unwanted back reflection in the fiber system. Another type of attenuator utilizes a length of high-loss optical fiber, that operates upon its input optical signal power level in such a way that its output signal power level is less than the input level.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://www.fiberstore.com/Fiber-Optic-Attenuator-Solution-aid-344.html |title=Fiber Optic Attenuator Solution |access-date=2014-12-12 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924012344/http://www.fiberstore.com/Fiber-Optic-Attenuator-Solution-aid-344.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>