Key Optical Components of a Faraday Isolator:

A. Faraday rotator optic: The most important optical element in a Faraday isolator is the Faraday rotator optic. The characteristics that one looks for in a Faraday rotator optic include a high verdet constant, low absorption coefficient, low non-linear refractive index and high damage threshold. Also, to prevent self-focusing and other thermal related effects, the optic should be as short as possible. The two most commonly used materials used for the 650-1100nm range are terbium gallium garnet (TGG) and terbium doped borosilicate glass. EOT uses both materials.

B: Polarizers: Also of critical importance in determining the performance of a Faraday isolator are the polarizers. Desirable polarizer characteristics include high damage threshold, high extinction ratios and low transmission losses. EOT's 1030-1080nm isolators use optically contacted BK-7 cube polarizers. Broadband isolators utilize calcite polarizers with Brewster angle entrance and exit faces or PBS Cubes. Laser diode isolators utilize Corning Polarcor™ polarizers or PBS Cubes.

• Introduction
  
• Operation of a Faraday Isolator
  
• Broadband Isolators for Ti:Sapphire and Other Tunable Lasers
  
• Operation of Broadband Isolators
  
• Dispersion in Ultrafast Ti:Sapphire Lasers; Sellmeiers Equation for TGG
  
• Key Optical Components of a Faraday Isolator
  
• Optical Component Specifications
  
• Isolation Defined
  
• Pulsed Damage Threshold; Root “T” Scaling