What describes the phenomenon where different spectral components of a light pulse travel at different speeds?

The phenomenon where different spectral components of a light pulse travel at different speeds is known as Chromatic Dispersion. This occurs because light consists of multiple wavelengths, or colors, each of which can interact differently with a medium, such as optical fiber. As a result, shorter wavelengths may travel faster than longer wavelengths, causing the light pulse to spread out over time as it propagates through the medium.

Chromatic Dispersion is particularly important in fiber optics, as it can affect the quality and speed of data transmission. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for designing effective communication systems that minimize signal degradation and improve performance.

The other options relate to different concepts or components of optical systems. Electromagnetic waves for optical fiber is a broader term that encompasses all light waves used in fiber optics, while mode coupling refers to energy transfer between different modes in multimode fibers. Decibel is a unit for measuring the intensity of sound or power, not specifically related to the behavior of light in fibers.