Optical isolator

Abstract

An optical isolator includes a first collimator, a second collimator and an isolation assembly arranged between the collimators. The first collimator includes a first capillary retaining an input fiber and a first GRIN lens received and retained in a first glass sleeve. The isolation assembly includes two birefringent crystal wedges with an optical rotator interposed between the birefringent crystal wedges. A magnetic ring receives and retains the birefringent crystal wedges and the optical rotator together. The second collimator includes a second capillary retaining an output fiber and a second GRIN lens which are received and retained in a second glass sleeve. A first stainless steel sleeve receives and retains the first glass sleeve and the isolation assembly together while a second stainless sleeve is fit over the second collimator. Apertures are defined in the first stainless steel sleeve. An end of the second stainless steel sleeve is sized to snugly fit into the end of the first stainless steel sleeve and thus properly aligns the collimators with each other. A portion of the second stainless steel sleeve underlaps the apertures of the first stainless sleeve. Welding is performed through the apertures to permanently secure the two stainless steel sleeves together.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.