What characteristic is primarily affected during the CWDM process?

The characteristic primarily affected during the Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) process is the number of available wavelengths. CWDM is a technology used to increase the capacity of optical fiber networks by allowing multiple channels of data to be transmitted simultaneously over a single optical fiber. It achieves this by using different wavelengths (or colors) of light, each carrying its own data stream.

In CWDM, a set of specific wavelengths is defined, typically spaced 20 nm apart in the range of the optical spectrum. This allows for several channels to be transmitted over the same fiber without interference, effectively multiplying the amount of data that can be sent at one time. Thus, the focus on the number of available wavelengths is crucial, as increasing this number leads to greater data transmission capacity in fiber optic systems.

Although other characteristics related to light waves—such as frequency, intensity, and polarization—do play roles in fiber optics, they are not the primary focus or change during the CWDM process. The fundamental aspect of CWDM is the strategic use of multiple wavelengths to achieve enhanced data transmission, hence emphasizing the importance of the number of available wavelengths.