Chromatic Dispersion
Chromatic dispersion is a physical effect that limits data rates in optical fibers that is due to the speed of light dependency in a fiber that makes it dependent on the wavelength of the light. Even single wavelength sources, such as high performance lasers, emit pulses made up of a small range of wavelengths. As the pulse travels down the fiber, some wavelengths travel more slowly than others. As a result, the pulse broadens. If it broadens too much or the interval between pulses becomes too small, the receiver will not be able to distinguish separate pulses. The effect is called Chromatic Dispersion because wavelength determines the color of light.