Wide angle Pockels cells and use thereof

A system for switching and collating light, comprising:

• a focusing lens that receives a laser beam and focuses the laser beam, resulting in a focused beam;
• a first linear polarizer that receives the focused beam and transmits the focused beam polarized at plus 45 degrees;
• a Pockels cell comprising:
• a first Pockels cell crystal, which follows the first linear polarizer, and has a first electrode connected thereto for providing a voltage to the first Pockels cell crystal;
• a first internal birefringent crystal plate that at least partially compensates for birefringence of the first Pockels cell crystal;
• a second internal birefringent compensation crystal plate that follows the first internal birefringent crystal plate;
• and
• a second Pockels cell crystal, that follows the second internal birefringent compensation crystal plate, and has a second electrode connected thereto for providing a voltage to the second Pockels cell crystal, wherein the second internal birefringent compensation crystal plate at least partially compensates for birefringence of the second Pockels cell crystal;
• and
• a second linear polarizer configured to receive light from the Pockels cell and transmit light based on a polarization stage to an optical fiber, wherein light of a different polarization stage may be absorbed or reflected by the second linear polarizer.