Features

• Minimize Feedback into Optical Systems
• Operating Wavelength Ranges of 1290 - 1330 nm, 1530 - 1570 nm, 1535 - 1565 nm, or 1990 - 2010 nm
• 0.8 m to 1 m of Fiber Built into Each Side of the Isolator
• Available with 2.0 mm Narrow Key FC/PC or FC/APC Connectors or Unterminated
• Designed for CW Applications
• Each Unit is Individually Tested
• Custom Isolators Available (See the Custom Isolators tab)

Fiber isolators protect light sources from back reflections and signals that can cause intensity noise and optical damage. Optical isolators, also known as Faraday isolators, are magneto-optic devices that preferentially transmit light in the forward direction while absorbing or displacing light propagating in the reverse direction (see the schematic below). Please see the Isolator Tutorial tab for an explanation of the operating principles of a Faraday isolator.

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This schematic shows a single-stage, polarization-independent isolator. Light is deflected away from the input path and stopped by the housing. See the Isolator Tutorial tab for more details and for a comparison to dual-stage isolators. Click the schematic to show polarization states.

The IOT-H-1550A dual-stage isolator includes an additional Faraday rotator, half-wave plate, and birefringent beam displacer compared to a single-stage isolator in order to achieve greater isolation.

Thorlabs' polarization-independent IR isolators, sold on this page, are compatible with single mode (SM) fibers. In contrast, our polarization-dependent IR isolators are designed to connect to polarization-maintaining (PM) fibers. Our high-power units are built using a specialized fiber end face process that increases the maximum power. There is 0.8 m to 1 m of fiber built into each side of the isolator, and an arrow on the body indicates the transmission direction. In addition, each unit is tested before shipment to ensure compliance with our specifications and a complete test report comes with every serialized part.

Thorlabs also manufactures free-space isolators and fiber isolators designed for the infrared range. Please use the Selection Guide table above for more information. If you do not see an isolator that suits your application, please refer to the Custom Isolators tab for information on our build-to-order options, or contact Tech Support.

Optical Isolator Tutorial

Function
An optical isolator is a passive magneto-optic device that only allows light to travel in one direction. Isolators are used to protect a source from back reflections or signals that may occur after the isolator. Back reflections can damage a laser source or cause it to mode hop, amplitude modulate, or frequency shift. In high-power applications, back reflections can cause instabilities and power spikes.

An isolator's function is based on the Faraday Effect. In 1842, Michael Faraday discovered that the plane of polarized light rotates while transmitting through glass (or other materials) that is exposed to a magnetic field. The direction of rotation is dependent on the direction of the magnetic field and not on the direction of light propagation; thus, the rotation is non-reciprocal. The amount of rotation β equals V x B x d, where V, B, and d are as defined below.

Figure 1. Faraday Rotator's Effect on Linearly Polarized Light

Faraday Rotation

β = V x B x d

V: the Verdet Constant, a property of the optical material, in radians/T • m.

B: the magnetic flux density in teslas.

d: the path length through the optical material in meters.

An optical isolator consists of an input polarizer, a Faraday rotator with magnet, and an output polarizer. The input polarizer works as a filter to allow only linearly polarized light into the Faraday rotator. The Faraday element rotates the input light's polarization by 45°, after which it exits through another linear polarizer. The output light is now rotated by 45° with respect to the input signal. In the reverse direction, the Faraday rotator continues to rotate the light's polarization in the same direction that it did in the forward direction so that the polarization of the light is now rotated 90° with respect to the input signal. This light's polarization is now perpendicular to the transmission axis of the input polarizer, and as a result, the energy is either reflected or absorbed depending on the type of polarizer.

Figure 2. A single-stage, polarization-dependent isolator. Light propagating in the reverse direction is rejected by the input polarizer.

Polarization-Dependent Isolators

The Forward Mode
In this example, we will assume that the input polarizer's axis is vertical (0° in Figure 2). Laser light, either polarized or unpolarized, enters the input polarizer and becomes vertically polarized. The Faraday rotator will rotate the plane of polarization (POP) by 45° in the positive direction. Finally, the light exits through the output polarizer which has its axis at 45°. Therefore, the light leaves the isolator with a POP of 45°.

In a dual-stage isolator, the light exiting the output polarizer is sent through a second Faraday rotator followed by an additional polarizer in order to achieve greater isolation than a single-stage isolator.

The Reverse Mode
Light traveling backwards through the isolator will first enter the output polarizer, which polarizes the light at 45° with respect to the input polarizer. It then passes through the Faraday rotator rod, and the POP is rotated another 45° in the positive direction. This results in a net rotation of 90° with respect to the input polarizer, and thus, the POP is now perpendicular to the transmission axis of the input polarizer. Hence, the light will either be reflected or absorbed.

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Figure 3. A single-stage, polarization-independent isolator. Light is deflected away from the input path and stopped by the housing.

Polarization-Independent Fiber Isolators

The Forward Mode
In a polarization independent fiber isolator, the incoming light is split into two branches by a birefringent crystal (see Figure 3). A Faraday rotator and a half-wave plate rotate the polarization of each branch before they encounter a second birefringent crystal aligned to recombine the two beams.

In a dual-stage isolator, the light then travels through an additional Faraday rotator, half-wave plate, and birefringent beam displacer before reaching the output collimating lens. This achieves greater isolation than the single-stage design.

The Reverse Mode
Back-reflected light will encounter the second birefringent crystal and be split into two beams with their polarizations aligned with the forward mode light. The faraday rotator is a non-reciprocal rotator, so it will cancel out the rotation introduced by the half wave plate for the reverse mode light. When the light encounters the input birefringent beam displacer, it will be deflected away from the collimating lens and into the walls of the isolator housing, preventing the reverse mode from entering the input fiber.

General Information

Damage Threshold
With 25 years of experience and 5 U.S. patents, our isolators typically have higher transmission and isolation than other isolators, and are smaller than other units of equivalent aperture. For visible to YAG laser Isolators, Thorlabs' Faraday Rotator crystal of choice is TGG (terbium-gallium-garnet), which is unsurpassed in terms of optical quality, Verdet constant, and resistance to high laser power. Thorlabs' TGG Isolator rods have been damage tested to 22.5 J/cm² at 1064 nm in 15 ns pulses (1.5 GW/cm²), and to 20 kW/cm² CW. However, Thorlabs does not bear responsibility for laser power damage that is attributed to hot spots in the beam.

Figure 4. Pulse Dispersion Measurements Before and After an IO-5-780-HP Isolator

Magnet
The magnet is a major factor in determining the size and performance of an isolator. The ultimate size of the magnet is not simply determined by magnetic field strength but is also influenced by the mechanical design. Many Thorlabs magnets are not simple one piece magnets but are complex assemblies. Thorlabs' modeling systems allow optimization of the many parameters that affect size, optical path length, total rotation, and field uniformity. Thorlabs' US Patent 4,856,878 describes one such design that is used in several of the larger aperture isolators for YAG lasers. Thorlabs emphasizes that a powerful magnetic field exists around these Isolators, and thus, steel or magnetic objects should not be brought closer than 5 cm.

Temperature
The magnets and the Faraday rotator materials both exhibit a temperature dependence. Both the magnetic field strength and the Verdet Constant decrease with increased temperature. For operation greater than ±10 °C beyond room temperature, please contact Technical Support.

Pulse Dispersion
Pulse broadening occurs anytime a pulse propagates through a material with an index of refraction greater than 1. This dispersion increases inversely with the pulse width and therefore can become significant in ultrafast lasers.

τ: Pulse Width Before Isolator

τ_(z): Pulse Width After Isolator

Example:
t = 197 fs results in t_(z) = 306 fs (pictured to the right)
t = 120 fs results in t_(z) = 186 fs

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Custom Isolator Example
Custom Adjustable Narrowband Isolator with Different Input and Output Polarizers Optimized for 650 nm Wavelength and 40 °C Temperature.

OEM and Non-Standard Isolators

In an effort to provide the best possible service to our customers, Thorlabs has made a commitment to ship our most popular free-space and fiber isolator models from stock. We currently offer same-day shipping on more than 90 isolator models. In addition to these stock models, non-stock isolators with differing aperture sizes, wavelength ranges, package sizes, and polarizers are available. In addition, we can create isolators tuned for specific operating temperatures and isolators that incorporate thermistors with heating or cooling elements for active temperature control and monitoring. These generally have the same price as a similar stock unit. If you would like a quote on a non-stock isolator, please fill out the form below and a member of our staff will be in contact with you.

Thorlabs has many years of experience working with OEM, government, and research customers, allowing us to tailor your isolator to specific design requirements. In addition to customizing our isolators (see the OEM Application Services list to the right), we also offer various application services.

Free-Space Isolators

We are able to provide a wide range of flexibility in manufacturing non-stock, free-space isolators. Almost any selection of specifications from our standard product line can be combined to suit a particular need. The table to the right shows the range of specifications that we can meet.

We offer isolators suitable for both narrowband and broadband applications. The size of the housing is very dependent on the desired maximum power and aperture size, so please include a note in the quote form below if you have special requirements.

Faraday Rotators

We offer Faraday rotators center wavelengths from 532 nm to 1550 nm. These are the same components used to make our isolators and rotate the polarization of incoming light by 45°. Please contact Tech Support if you require a faraday rotator with a rotation angle or center wavelength outside of the aforementioned specifications.

Fiber Isolators

Thorlabs is uniquely positioned to draw on experience in classical optics, fiber coupling, and isolators to provide flexible designs for a wide range of fiber optic specifications. Current design efforts are focused on increasing the Maximum power of our fiber isolators at and near the 1064 nm wavelength. We offer models with integrated ASE filters and taps. The table to the right highlights the range of specifications that we can meet.

The fiber used is often the limiting factor in determining the Maximum power the isolator can handle. We have experience working with single mode (SM) and polarization-maintaining fibers (PM); single-, double- and triple-clad fibers; and specialty fibers like 10-to-30 µm LMA fibers and PM LMA fibers. For more information about the fiber options available with our custom isolators, please see the expandable tables below.

In the spectral region below 633 nm, we recommend mounting one of our free-space isolators in a FiberBench system. A FiberBench system consists of pre-designed modules that make it easy to use free-space optical elements with a fiber optic system while maintaining excellent coupling efficiency. Upon request, we can provide select stock isolators in an optic mount with twin steel dowel pins for our FiberBench systems, as shown to the left.

We are also in the process of extending our fiber isolator capabilities down into the visible region. For more information, please contact Technical Support.

Custom Fiber Isolator

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Custom Free-Space Isolator for Wavelengths Below 633 nm

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Twin Steel Pins Insert into FiberBench

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Mounted Isolator

Make to Order Options

The expandable tables below provide information on some common isolator and rotator specials we have manufactured in the past. We keep the majority of the components for these custom isolators in stock to ensure quick builds, so these specials are available with an average lead time of only 2-4 weeks.  Please use the Non-Stock Isolator Worksheet below for a quote.

Custom Request Form

Request a custom isolator quote using the form below or by contacting us for more information at (973) 300-3000.

Non-Stock Isolator Worksheet:

Please select your input type:    Free-Space Input  |    Fiber Input Is this an ITAR request?:    Yes  |    No     Not sure? Close [X] ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulation) is a United States Government regulation controlling the import and export of defense-related articles on the United States Munitions List (USML). Information and material pertaining to military and defense related technology may only be shared with U.S. Persons unless authorization from the Department of State is received or a special exemption is used.

Free-Space Input Wavelength or Wavelength Range (nm): Power (W): Max 1/e2 Beam Diameter (mm): Isolation (dB): % Transmission: Notes: Fiber Input Wavelength or Wavelength Range (nm): Power (W): Polarization Sensitivity:   Dependent   |     Indepentent Isolation (dB): % Transmission: Fiber: Fiber Connector:   FC/PC   |     FC/APC   |     Other Output:   Fiber   |     Free-Space Notes:

Customer Information:

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Thorlabs Lab Fact: Isolation & Transmission Properties of IO-F and IO-H Fiber Isolators

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Figure 1: IO-H Series Polarization-Independent Isolator Schematic

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Figure 2: IO-F Series Polarization-Independent Isolator Schematic

We present laboratory measurements of the isolation and transmission properties of our IO-H and IO-F series of fiber-coupled optical isolators. Generally, an isolator uses a Faraday rotator in conjunction with a half-wave plate, between two beam-displacement polarizers, to provide isolation from back reflections. While both series provide excellent isolation from optical feedback, they do so through different geometries. As a result, these two series offer different optimized performance specifications. The IO-H series (see Figure 1) is optimized for performance at a specific wavelength (e.g., 1550 nm for the IO-H-1550APC). The IO-F series (see Figure 2), however, is designed as a more versatile platform and offers customized performance over various wavelength bands. These bands are defined by the choice of half-wave plate and collimating lenses.

For this experiment the laser source was Thorlabs' TLK-L1550R Tunable Laser Kit, swept through 1505 – 1593 nm. The fiber-coupled laser beam was fed through a 99:1 fiber coupler, allowing 1% of the TLK's power to be sent to an OSA203 Optical Spectrum Analyzer to monitor and record the TLK's center wavelength at each data point. The remaining power was split in half by a 50:50 fiber coupler, which created two paths. One path was designated as a reference path and was fed directly into an integrating sphere; the other path was designated as the test path. The isolator was placed in the test path and then attached to an integrating sphere. For this experiment, the IO-H-1550APC and IO-F-1550APC isolators were tested. Either the transmission (when the isolator was integrated into the test path in the forward direction) or isolation (when the isolator was integrated into the path in the reverse direction) was measured. Since both reference and test path data were taken simultaneously, the exact transmission or isolation could be extracted along with peak wavelength data from the OSA.

Figures 3 and 4 summarize the measured results for the IO-H series isolator and compare those results to those reported on our website. Figure 3 shows that for the two tested IO-H-1550APC isolators, the real transmission is a few percentage points higher than the specified value on the website (i.e., the performance exceeds the specification). It also shows a slight etalon effect caused by the front window of the OSA detector. Figure 4 details the isolation for the same set of isolators and shows a slight increase in isolation and similar bandwidth as the web specifications. Figures 5 and 6 summarize the measured results for the IO-F series isolator. The two tested isolators show a >5% increase over the specified transmission, and an additional etalon effect from the internal half-wave plate is observed as well. Figure 6 shows that the measured isolators again have higher isolation than specified but also have a variance in the peak isolated wavelength. For details on the experimental setup employed and the results summarized here, please click here.

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Figure 3: IO-H Series Transmission

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Figure 4: IO-H Series Isolation

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Figure 5: IO-F Series Transmission

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Figure 6: IO-F Series Isolation