An optical system and method for selective transmission of light between a source of light and set of storage disks along an optical path includes at least one polarization maintaining optical fiber optical fiber. Various noise reduction techniques are provided by substantially decreasing or eliminating spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at end faces and of an optical fiber. In particular, various techniques, such as index matching, a cover slip method, or laser modulation, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the front end face of the optical fiber. Various techniques, such index matching or multi-mode fiber splicing, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the end face of the optical fiber.