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MIR Single Mode Fluoride Fiber Optic Patch Cables![]()
P3-23Z-FC-2 ZrF4 Fiber, FC/APC-Compatible Connectors P1-32F-FC-1 InF3 Fiber, FC/PC-Compatible Connectors Related Items ![]() Please Wait ![]() Click to Enlarge Zirconium fluoride (ZrF4) fiber offers lower attenuation than indium fluoride (InF3) fiber, while InF3 fiber is transparent at longer wavelengths than ZrF4 fiber. For additional attenuation plots, please see the Graphs tab.
Features
Our IRphotonics® line of single mode fluoride patch cables are designed for low-loss transmission in the mid-IR spectral range. Manufactured using Thorlabs' fluoride optical fiber, our ZBLAN zirconium fluoride (ZrF4) patch cables have a single mode operation range of 2.3 - 4.1 µm, while our indium fluoride (InF3) patch cables have a single mode operation range of 3.2 - 5.5 µm. See the graph on the right for a comparison of ZrF4 fiber and InF3 fiber attenuation. These fluoride fiber patch cables offer mechanical flexibility similar to standard silica patch cables, good environmental stability, and a flat attenuation curve in the mid-IR. Because fluoride glass transmits down into the UV, visible light (such as that generated by fiber-coupled lasers) can be propagated along the same fiber as an alignment aid. Note that because visible light is below the cutoff wavelength, it will propagate as if in a multimode fiber. The numerical aperture (NA) of these patch cables remains relatively constant over the specified SM operating range (see the Graphs tab for plots). ![]() Click for Details Each fluoride patch cable is labeled with its Item #, batch number, and key specifications. Both ends of each cable are terminated using ceramic ferrule connectors, with flat or angled polishes that are compatible with either FC/PC- or FC/APC-terminated components, respectively (see the FC Connectors tab for more details). In setups that are sensitive to back reflections, we recommend using angled FC connectors. Each cable includes two protective caps that shield the ferrule ends from dust and other hazards. Replacement CAPF (plastic) and CAPFM (metal) caps are available separately. Usage Recommendations Mid-IR Applications ![]() Click to Enlarge Signals in SM fluoride patch cables can be coupled into free space using a reflective collimator. ![]() Click to Enlarge As an alternative to reflective collimators, FiberPorts offer free-space coupling with five degrees of freedom, plus rotational adjustment. †Kimwipes® is a registered trademark of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
This tab contains plots of the attenuation (measured), bend-induced attenuation (measured), dispersion (calculated), numerical aperture (measured) and refractive indices (measured) of our fluoride fiber as a function of wavelength. The data files linked below each graph also provide calculated data for the mode field diameter as a function of wavelength. The data shown below is for a single patch cable; variations between cables can occur. Please contact Tech Support if you have concerns about whether these fibers are appropriate for your application. Attenuation![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data This plot contains the measured attenuation for our single mode ZrF4 fiber. The green shaded region in the plot denotes the specified range for single mode operation with attenuation ≤0.3 dB/m, and the blue shaded region denotes the range for single mode operation without a guaranteed attenuation specification. The orange shaded region denotes the range where the fiber is still transmissive, but provides multimode operation.The cutoff wavelength, denoted by a dashed vertical line, is the onset of this multimode operation and will vary from run to run. The peak near 1.9 µm corresponds to attenuation of the second-order mode. ![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data This plot contains the measured attenuation for our single mode InF3 fiber. The green shaded region in the plot denotes the specified range for single mode operation with attenuation ≤0.45 dB/m, and the blue shaded region denotes the range for single mode operation without a guaranteed attenuation specification. The orange shaded region denotes the range where the fiber is still transmissive, but provides multimode operation. The cutoff wavelength, denoted by a dashed vertical line, is the onset of this multimode operation and will vary from run to run. The peak near 2.9 µm corresponds to attenuation of the second-order mode. ![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data This plot contains the measured attenuation for a single loop of our single mode ZrF4 fiber at five different bend radii. The blue and green shaded regions in the plot together denote the single mode wavelength range (2.3 - 4.1 µm). ![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data This plot contains the measured attenuation for a single loop of our single mode InF3 fiber at four different bend radii. The blue and green shaded regions in the plot together denote the single mode wavelength range (3.2 - 5.5 µm). Dispersion![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data This plot contains the calculated chromatic dispersion of our single mode ZrF4 fiber. The zero-dispersion wavelength is around 1.6 µm. The shaded region in the plot denotes the single mode wavelength range (2.3 - 4.1 µm). ![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data This plot contains the calculated chromatic dispersion of our single mode InF3 fiber. The zero-dispersion wavelength is around 1.7 µm. The shaded region in the plot denotes the single mode wavelength range (3.2 - 5.5 µm). Numerical Aperture![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data This plot contains the NA values of our single mode ZrF4 fiber, based upon the refractive indices in the plot below. The shaded region in the plot denotes the single mode wavelength range (2.3 - 4.1 µm). ![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data This plot contains the NA values of our single mode InF3 fiber, based upon the refractive indices in the plot below. The shaded region in the plot denotes the single mode wavelength range (3.2 - 5.5 µm). Refractive Indices![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data The refractive indices shown here were obtained by fitting the Sellmeier equation to measured data. The Sellmeier coefficients used in the fit are given in the table to the right. ![]()
![]() Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data These refractive indices were obtained by fitting the Sellmeier equation to measured data. The Sellmeier coefficients used in the fit are given in the table below. ![]() Sellmeier Equation
This tab describes the key similarities and differences between standard silica patch cables and fluoride patch cables in day-to-day usage. Physical HandlingBending Storage Cleaning Please note that Kimwipes®† are extremely likely to scratch the fiber tip and should not be used. Repolishing Service Environmental ConsiderationsNormal lab temperatures and humidities will not affect the integrity of the fiber. Prolonged, direct contact with liquid water or water vapor should be avoided. End-of-Life DisposalThorlabs will accept and safely dispose of fluoride patch cables that you wish to discard. Please contact Tech Support before returning the cable. If you wish to dispose of the cable locally, please follow all applicable local laws and regulations, noting that the fluoride glass is composed primarily of barium fluoride with zirconium fluoride or indium fluoride. †Kimwipes® is a registered trademark of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. ![]() Angled FC-Terminated Fluoride Patch Cables have 8° Angle-Polished Tips ![]() FC-Terminated Fluoride Patch Cables have Flat-Polished Tips ![]() Standard FC/PC Connectors have Domed Tips When using standard silica fiber patch cables, FC/PC or FC/APC connectors are typically chosen because the PC and APC polishes provide domed tips that bring the cores of two mated patch cables into physical contact. This physical contact minimizes the connection loss at the cable-to-cable interface. Since fluoride glass is softer than silica glass, the polishing procedures used for silica glass result in flat fiber tips. Depending upon the cable, the tip may also be slightly recessed with respect to the ferrule. Fluoride patch cable connectors are therefore neither FC/PC (where "PC" denotes Physical Contact) nor FC/APC (where "APC" denotes Angled Physical Contact). Hence, we denote these cables as either flat-polished FC or angle-polished FC. The flat fiber tip does not affect applications where the fiber output is being coupled into free space. However, when making cable-to-cable connections with FC connectors, such as through a mating sleeve or a bulkhead, transmission losses can occur because the fiber cores may not be in physical contact. Because the gap between FC-terminated cables is smaller than the typical gap between SMA905-terminated cables (which use air-gap ferrules), these losses are usually negligible. The images below show two- and three-dimensional representations of the tip of a finished fluoride patch cable. ![]() Click to Enlarge This image contains a two-dimensional surface profile of the tip of a Ø100 µm core, flat-polished FC fluoride patch cable. The X and Y axis units are displayed in microns. The dashed circles and lines are shown as a guide to the eye. The interface between the metal ferrule and the cable interior is visualized by a faint green circle inside the blue dashed circle. This data is representative of all our flat-polished FC fluoride fiber patch cables. ![]() Click to Enlarge This image contains a three-dimensional map of the tip of a Ø100 µm core, flat-polished FC fluoride patch cable. The dashed circles are shown as a guide to the eye. The interface between the metal ferrule and the cable interior is represented by the round depression between the black and blue circles. This data is representative of all our flat-polished FC fluoride fiber patch cables. ![]() Click to Enlarge The left image shows the intensity profile of the beam propagated through the fiber overlaid on the fiber itself. The right image shows the standard intensity profile of the beam propagated through the fiber with the MFD and core diameter called out. Definition of the Mode Field DiameterThe mode field diameter (MFD) is one measure of the beam width of light propagating in a single mode fiber. It is a function of wavelength, core radius, and the refractive indices of the core and cladding. While much of the light in an optical fiber is trapped within the fiber core, a small fraction propagates in the cladding. The light can be approximated as a Gaussian power distribution as shown to the right, where the MFD is the diameter at which the optical power is reduced to 1/e2 from its peak level. Measurement of MFD The MFD is then determined using Petermann's second definition, which is a mathematical model that does not assume a specific shape of power distribution. The MFD in the near field can be determined from this far-field measurement using the Hankel Transform.
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