OFR Fiber Polarization Controller

OFR Globe

Collimator/Coupler

Coupling Lenses

Faraday Rotator

Fiber-Fiber Coupler

Laser-Fiber Coupler

Pol. Controller

Polarization Reference

Splitter/Combiner

Variable Attenuator

Variable Delay Line

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The OFR Polarization Controller replaces conventional looped fiber types, yet performs the same functions. It consists of the Fiber-to-Fiber Coupling System with appropriate Retarder Component Modules.

Control of polarization is achieved through the use of 1/4-Wave and 1/2-Wave Retarders whose parameters are not affected by environmental changes on the fiber. This accounts for the stability of the OFR Polarization Controller.

A Linear Polarizer is the third Module in the PC-FFB. It precedes or follows the 1/4-Wave and 1/2-Wave Retarders (in that order) according to the application. See www.ofr.com/fiberbenches/
polarizationcontroller.

In contrast, looped fiber controllers are sensitive to environmental changes, and therefore must be frequently adjusted.

In all FiberBench Coupling Systems using OFR PM FiberCables, both the fast axis and the FC receptacle keyway are vertical. Both the plane of polarization and the fiber stress rods are horizontal.

A major feature of OFR FiberBench Coupling Systems is stability. Transmittance remains constant after temperature change, shock and vibration far greater than experienced in typical laboratory use.

Question

OFR
Polarization Controller

Looped Fiber
Polarization Controller

Is PM output fiber available as a standard?

What about time, temperature and motion stability.

Yes

Extremely stable, insensitive to physical disturbances

No. PM fiber must be spliced to output SM fiber

Sensitive to physical disturbances. Drifting is common.

Typical insertion loss is < 1 dB (fiber-fiber) without optical components. Return loss < 50 dB input/output.

Polarization controller with disconnectable FiberPorts (-X model).	Polarization controller with permanent pigtailed fibers (-Y model).
-X Disconnectable FC fiber interface	-Y Permanent pigtailed fibers

Catalog Number	Description	Application
PC-FFB-P/P-QHL-λ-X or -Y	PM in/out with 1/4, 1/2, linear polarizer	Use when input fiber has signal not launched correctly into the PM fiber axis. 1/4 wave plate removes ellipticity, resultant linear light is then rotated with 1/2 wave plate, linear polarizer then "cleans up" polarization entering PM fiber.
PC-FFB-P/P-HL-λ-X or -Y (Common)	PM in/out with 1/2, linear polarizer	Use when light is well aligned on the input fiber. 1/2 wave retarder rotates the plane of polarization to match that of the output fiber. Linear polarizer then "cleans up" the polarization entering the output PM fiber.
PC-FFB-S/P-QHL-λ-X or -Y (Common)	SM in/PM out with 1/4, 1/2, linear polarizer	Use when input SM signal needs to be converted to linear polarized light before entering output PM fiber.
PC-FFB-S/S-QHL-λ-X or -Y	SM in/out with with 1/4, 1/2, linear polarizer	Use when input SM signal needs to be converted to linear polarized light before entering output SM fiber. Common when relatively short runs of SM fiber are used on the output so as not to introduce ellipticity into linear polarized output.
PC-FFB-S/S-QHQ-λ-X or -Y	SM in/out with with 1/4, 1/2, 1/4	Use when elliptical and linear states of polarization are desired. Bench is reciprical in operation allowing any state to be produced forward or backward.
PC-FFB-S/S-QHQL-λ-X or -Y	SM in/out with with 1/4, 1/2, 1/4, linear polarizer	Use when input SM signal needs to be converted to linear polarized light before entering output SM fiber. Common when relatively short runs of SM fiber are used on the output so as not to introduce ellipticity into linear polarized output.
PC-FFB-S/S-QH-λ-X or -Y	SM in/out with with 1/4, 1/2,	Use when input SM signal needs to be converted to linear polarized light before entering output SM fiber. Common when relatively short runs of SM fiber are used on the output so as not to introduce ellipticity into linear polarized output.

Optics for Research · Ph 973-579-7227 · Fax 973-300-3600 · Email: info@ofr.com