Reduced thickness optical isolator and method of use thereof in a laser optic system

Abstract

In an optical isolator, a garnet rotates a polarization of an optical signal input into the garnet via a polarizer from an optical signal source in a first direction and outputs it as a first garnet output optical signal to an analyzer which outputs it as a first analyzer output optical signal. A difference (D) between a polarization of the first garnet output optical signal and a polarization axis of the analyzer is 10°≤D<84°. The analyzer outputs a reflection of the first analyzer output optical signal as a second analyzer output optical signal to the garnet which rotates a polarization thereof in the first direction and outputs it to the polarizer as a second garnet output optical signal. The polarizer blocks ≥25 dB of the second garnet output optical signal that is received from the garnet and output to the optical signal source.

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