Connectors for use with polarization-maintaining and multicore optical fiber cables

A multifiber ferrule, comprising

• a molded plastic body comprising block-shaped base and head sections, through which there extends one or more guide holes corresponding, respectively, to an equal number of respective polarization-maintaining fibers at an end of a multifiber optical fiber cable,
• wherein each polarization-maintaining fiber has at least one flat side surface identifying a particular rotational orientation of a fiber transmission axis, such that the fiber transmission axis is alignable to a selected rotational orientation by causing the at least one flat side surface to abut a respective reference surface,
• wherein each guide hole extends through the ferrule body and is shaped to closely receive a respective polarization-maintaining fiber threaded therethrough,
• wherein each guide hole is provided with one or more flat side reference surfaces therewithin corresponding, respectively, to the one or more flat side surfaces of a respective polarization-maintaining fiber, such that alignment of the one or more flat side surfaces of each respective polarization-maintaining fiber against the one or more flat surfaces within each corresponding guide hole results in a rotational alignment of each polarization-maintaining fiber to a selected rotational orientation,
• wherein each guide hole and respective polarization-maintaining fiber are configured to have a close enough fit such that each polarization-maintaining fiber is rotationally confined within its respective guide hole in the selected rotational orientation, and
• wherein the ferrule body is configured to provide aligned connectorization with a mating structure for each of the respective endfaces of polarization-maintaining fibers installed into the guide holes.