Polarizers and isolators and methods of manufacture
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsAmy J. Naylor, Jessica L. Neumann, Robert S. Pavlik JR., Katherine R. Rossington, Robert Sabia, Donald M. Trotter JR.
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Abstract
Polarizing glass articles, optical isolators including polarizing glass articles, and methods of manufacturing polarizing glass articles and optical isolators are disclosed. The methods manufacture can be used to manufacture isolators exhibiting improved contrast ratio.
Claims14
A polarizing glass article containing elongated metal particles exhibiting a change in polarization axis of less than about 0.0375°/mm.
A polarizing glass article in the form of a sheet and containing elongated metal particles exhibiting a change in polarization axis of 0.030°/mm over distances up to 15 mm.
A passively aligned optical isolator comprising laminated layers of material including two polarizing glass layers sandwiching a Faraday rotator layer, wherein the contrast ratio of the isolator is greater than about 40 dB.
A method of producing a polarizing glass article comprising:
- drawing a sheet of polarizing glass containing elongated metallic halide particles;
- measuring the polarization angle variability with respect to a distance across the sheet;
- referencing the polarization angle variability with respect to at least one edge of the sheet;
- selecting an area of the glass sheet exhibiting a minimum polarization angle variability;
- and
- cutting the area of glass exhibiting a minimum polarization angle variability.
A method of manufacturing an optical isolator comprising:
- selecting at least two polarizing glass sheets exhibiting a change in polarization axis of less than about 0.02°/mm;
- and
- laminating the polarizing glass sheets together with a Faraday rotator sandwiched between the glass sheets to provide an optical isolator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.