Fiber connector bulkhead adapter with shroud for protecting high-power fiber

A fiber connector bulkhead adapter for coupling a fiber connector to bulkhead optics so as to inhibit back reflections from damaging a laser system, the adapter comprising:

• a bore sized to receive a fiber ferrule of a fiber connector, the fiber ferrule for holding an optical fiber, the optical fiber having a core and a cladding at an end face of the fiber ferrule, and the end face having at least a portion that confronts an end of the bore;
• a mounting base defining a shroud;
• and
• an aperture in the shroud,
• wherein the aperture having has a diameter that is sized such that it does not occlude a beam diameter of a beam emitted from the core when the core is positioned at a maximum central alignment tolerance,
• wherein the shroud shrouds areas of the fiber ferrule beyond the cladding, and
• wherein the optical fiber has a fiber end face polished at a fiber end face angle with respect to a fiber axis of the optical fiber so that reflected light leaks out into the cladding.