Fiber Optical Isolators: Enhancing Signal Stability and Protecting Light Sources
- intern1835
- Jan 21, 2020
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 4
A fiber optical isolator is a passive optical device that allows light to travel in only one direction. These components are crucial for protecting signal sources from back reflections and back scattering, which can damage laser sources and cause system instabilities in high-power optical systems.
Key Parameters
Degree of Isolation: Typical isolators achieve 30-40 dB isolation. High-power devices may have lower isolation. Dual-stage isolators, which are a combination of two isolators usually packed into one housing, can be used when higher isolation is required.
Insertion Loss: This depends on the polarizer quality, rotation angle precision, and uniformity in the rotator.
Polarization Sensitivity:
Polarization-insensitive isolators are common in optical fiber communication systems.
Polarization-sensitive isolators are used in free-space optical and coherence communication systems.
Neptec's Optical Isolator Products
Neptec Optical Solutions offers a range of optical isolators for various applications.
These products will be showcased at the upcoming Photonics West exhibition, demonstrating Neptec's 10-year experience in designing and manufacturing fiber optic components.
Free Space Isolators
Neptec’s free space isolator feature high isolation and low insertion loss. Customization and hybrid options with receptacle, collimator, and fiber array are available.
High Power Isolators
Neptec’s high power isolators can handle power from 500mW to 100W, depending on the customization option. Neptec offers special wavelength and hybrid options for these isolators, which are used to protect lasers and amplifiers.
Micro-optics Isolators for Telecommunication
Neptec offers micro-optics isolators that operate across a wide wavelength range and are available in polarization-sensitive and polarization-insensitive versions for C and L bands. These types of isolators are commonly used in fiber optic communication systems, CATV links, fiber lasers, and amplifiers.
