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Terminated Fiber Adapters![]()
SM1FC FC/PC Adapter, SM05SMA SMA Adapter SM1FCA2 FC/APC Adapter, PM20-ST ST/PC Adapter SM1FCM Ø2.5 mm Ferrule Adapter FCM Ø2.5 mm Ferrule Clamp SM05SMA Fiber Adapter in an S120-SC SC/PC Adapter Related Items ![]() Please Wait Threaded & Unthreaded Adapters These adapters are commonly employed when building free-space single mode or multimode fiber couplers and collimators or in other free-space coupling applications. They can also be utilized to provide light-tight coupling to our SM05 (0.535"-40)- or SM1 (1.035"-40)-threaded photodetectors and many of our power meter sensors. Our C-mount-threaded fiber adapters are useful for connecting patch cables to our C-mount cameras. Bulkhead Adapters Post-Mounting Adapters ![]() Click to Enlarge Mating Between a Narrow-Key Mating Sleeve and Connector ![]() Click to Enlarge Mating Between a Wide-Key Mating Sleeve and Connector FC/PC and FC/APC Patch Cable Key AlignmentFC/PC and FC/APC Patch Cables are equipped with either a 2.0 mm narrow or 2.2 mm wide alignment key that fits into a corresponding slot on a mated component. These keys and slots are essential to correctly align the cores of connected fiber patch cables and minimize the insertion loss of the connection. As an example, Thorlabs designs and manufactures mating sleeves for FC/PC- and FC/APC-terminated patch cables to precise specifications that ensure good alignment when used correctly. To ensure the best alignment, the alignment key on the patch cable is inserted into the corresponding narrow or wide-key slot on the mating sleeve. Wide-Key-Slot Mating Sleeves Narrow-Key-Slot Mating Sleeves Narrow-Key-Slot Mating Sleeve and Narrow Key Connector
Once a narrow key connector is inserted into a narrow-key-slot mating sleeve, the connector will not rotate. We therefore recommend these mating sleeves for FC/PC and FC/APC connectors with narrow keys.
Wide-Key-Slot Mating Sleeve and Narrow Key Connector When a narrow key connector is inserted into a wide-key-slot mating sleeve, the connector has room to rotate. For narrow key FC/PC connectors, this is acceptable, but for narrow key FC/APC connectors, significant coupling losses will result. Insights into Optical FiberScroll down to read about:
Click here for more insights into lab practices and equipment.
What factors affect the amount of light coupled into a single mode fiber?![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 2 Conditions which can reduce coupling efficiency into single mode fibers include anything that reduces the similarity of the incident beam to the optical properties of the fiber's guided mode. ![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 1 For maximum coupling efficiency into single mode fibers, the light should be an on-axis Gaussian beam with its waist located at the fiber's end face, and the waist diameter should equal the MFD. Adjusting the incident beam's angle, position, and intensity profile can improve the coupling efficiency of light into a single mode optical fiber. Assuming the fiber's end face is planar and perpendicular to the fiber's long axis, coupling efficiency is optimized for beams meeting the following criteria (Figure 1):
Deviations from these ideal coupling conditions are illustrated in Figure 2. These beam properties follow from wave optics analysis of a single mode fiber's guided mode (Kowalevicz). The Light Source can Limit Coupling Efficiency The coupling efficiency of light from multimode lasers or broadband light sources into the guided mode of a single mode fiber will be poor, even if the light is focused on the core region of the end face. Most of the light from these sources will leak out of the fiber. The poor coupling efficiency is due to only a fraction of the light in these multimode sources matching the characteristics of the single mode fiber's guided mode. By spatially filtering the light from the source, the amount of light that may be coupled into the fiber's core can be estimated. At best, a single mode fiber will accept only the light in the Gaussian beam output by the filter. The coupling efficiency of light from a multimode source into a fiber's core can be improved if a multimode fiber is used instead of a single mode fiber. References Date of Last Edit: Jan. 17, 2020
Is the max acceptance angle constant across the core of a multimode fiber?![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 3: Step-index multimode fibers have an index of refraction ( n ) that is constant across the core. Graded-index multimode fibers have an index that varies across the core. Typically the maximum index occurs at the center. ![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 5: Graded-index multimode fibers have acceptance angles that vary with radius ( ρ ), since the refractive index of the core varies with radius. The largest acceptance angles typically occur near the center, and the smallest, which approach 0°, occur near the boundary with the cladding ![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 4: Step-index multimode fibers accept light incident in the core at angles ≤|θmax | with good coupling efficiency. The maximum acceptance angle is constant across the core's radius ( ρ ). Air is assumed to surround the fiber. It depends on the type of fiber. A step-index multimode fiber provides the same maximum acceptance angle at every position across the fiber's core. Graded-index multimode fibers, in contrast, accept rays with the largest range of incident angles only at the core's center. The maximum acceptance angle decreases with distance from the center and approaches 0° near the interface with the cladding. Step-Index Multimode Fiber Regardless of whether rays are incident near the center or edge of the core, step-index multimode fibers will accept cones of rays spanning angles ±θmax with respect to the fiber's axis. Graded-Index Multimode Fibers Cones of rays with angular ranges limited by the core's refractive index profile are illustrated Figure 5. The cone of rays with the largest angular spread Step-Index or Graded Index? However, the graded-index profile causes all of the guided modes to have similar propagation velocities, which reduces the modal dispersion of the light beam as it travels in the fiber. For applications that rely on coupling as much light as possible into the multimode fiber and are less sensitive to modal dispersion, a step-index multimode fiber may be the better choice. If the reverse is true, a graded-index multimode fiber should be considered. References Date of Last Edit: Jan. 2, 2019
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Note: The ST and SMA adapters have indents/dimples in the front surface to allow the adapter to be tightened with the SPW801 spanner wrench. Note that these indents do not go all the way through the disk. The FC receptacles are too large to include the tightening indents. Instead we recommend putting an FC connector into the receptacle of the adapter to aid in tightening. ![]()
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Note: Each disk has four dimples, two in the front surface and two in the back surface, that allow it to be tightened from either side with the SPW909 or SPW801 spanner wrench. The dimples do not go all the way through the disk so that the adapters can be used in light-tight applications when paired with SM1 lens tubes. Once the adapter is at the desired position, use an SM1RR retaining ring to secure it in place. For externally SM1-threaded Ø1.25 mm and Ø2.5 mm ferrule adapters, please see below. ![]()
Note: The APC adapters have two dimples in the front surface that allow them to be tightened with the SPW909 or SPW801 spanner wrench. The dimples do not go all the way through the disk so that the adapter can be used in light-tight applications when paired with SM1 lens tubes. ![]()
Note: Each adapter has four dimples, two on the front and two on the back, that allow it to be tightened with the SPW801 and SPW909 spanner wrenches. Note that these indents do not go all the way through the disk so that the adapters can be used in light-tight applications when paired with C-mount extension tubes. ![]()
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Note: Each adapter shown here has two small dimples for aligning the adapter with our SPW909 fixed spanner wrench or SPW801 adjustable spanner wrench. The dimples do not go all the way through the disk so that the adapters can be used in light-tight applications. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge HASMA Adapter Attached to an SMA-Terminated Fiber Patch Cable
Thorlabs Bulkhead Adapters each accept a fiber connector on one side and have threads that can be used to mount the adapter into an OEM or custom system. They are useful for applications that require light to be launched from a fiber into a free-space setup. The design aligns the front face of the connector ferrule with the rear surface of the adapter, as shown in the photo to the right, and allows the fiber to be placed in near-physical contact with any optics or instruments that are placed after the adapter. For compatibility with FC/PC-terminated patch cables, we offer two bulkhead adapters: the HAFC2 with a 2.0 mm narrow-key slot and the HAFC with a 2.2 mm wide-key slot. Both adapters have 3.2 mm long, 3/8"-24 external mounting threads on the side opposite the FC/PC connector. To create 3/8"-24 taps in custom assemblies, Thorlabs offers the TAP3824 tap. Our HASMA adapter is 0.38" (9.65 mm) long, with a 1/4"-36 threaded barrel for use with SMA905- and SMA906-style terminated fiber optic patch cables. The threaded barrel can also be used with the lock nut for mounting within OEM or custom systems. The uncommon mounting threads in these adapters will require the use of custom mounting solutions. We recommend engaging at least two threads for stability when using a custom mount, with thread locker (Loctite) as an option for permanent solutions. If tapping a hole is not an option, the adapters can also be epoxied in place. If a custom or OEM solution is not desired, both adapters are also available mounted within unthreaded and SM-threaded disks (sold above) for compatibility with our lens tube systems. Fiber and bulkhead caps are also available for preventing damage to the terminated fiber when it is not in use. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge An SM1LCM Adapter Shown in a KM100T SM1-Threaded Kinematic Mount with Ferrule-Terminated Patch Cable
These Adapter Plates allow our patch cables with a Ø1.25 mm or Ø2.5 mm ferrule end to be mounted within SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) systems. A flexure clamp is used to secure the ferrule end of the patch cable; the SM1FCM clamps on a Ø2.5 mm bare ferrule while the SM1LCM clamps on the Delrin®* sleeve of the Ø1.25 mm ferrule-terminated patch cables (see photo to the right). The flexure clamp on each adapter is secured with a 3-48 cap screw, which is tightened using a 5/64" (2 mm) balldriver or hex key. Approximately 1.25 in-lbs (0.14 N·m) of torque is sufficient to secure the ferrule. When the ferrule is correctly positioned, the distance from the fiber end face to the adapter face is 0.01" (0.3 mm). The disks are externally SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) and have four dimples, two in the front surface and two in the back surface, that allow it to be tightened from either side using an SPW909 or SPW801 Spanner Wrench. These dimples do not pass through the disk, ensuring the ferrule adapters are light-tight when used with SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) lens tubes. Once the adapter is in the desired position, use an SM1RR retaining ring to secure it in place. *Delrin® is a registered trademark of DuPont Polymers, Inc. ![]()
These Post-Mountable Ferrule Clamps allow fiber connectors to be mounted securely and compactly within an experimental setup. See the table below for compatible ferrule diameters and fiber connectors for each clamp. The fiber ferrule is clamped into the flexure mount using a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key. An 8-32 (M4) tapped hole on the bottom of the mount provides compatibility with our Ø1/2" optical posts.
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