Polarization-Maintaining Fiber Optic Circulators

Overview
Specs
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Selection Guide for Circulators
SM Circulators
1310 nm SM Circulator for OCT
PM Circulators
1064 nm High Power Circulator
1550 nm High Power Circulator

Features

Compact Inline Package
Epoxy-Free Optical Path
High-Power Options for 1064 and 1550 nm

Applications

Add-Drop Multiplexing
Fiber Sensors
Bidirectional Pumping
Bidirectional Signal Transmission Systems
Coupling Inline Chromatic Dispersion Compensation Devices

Click to Enlarge
A PM Fiber Circulator Mounted in our BFCT Fiber Component Tray

Thorlabs’ Polarization-Maintaining (PM) Optic Circulators are non-reciprocating, unidirectional, three-port devices that are used in a wide range of optical setups. Available with a center wavelength of 1064, 1310 (O-Band), or 1550 nm (C-Band), these circulators are fast axis blocked and hence are designed to work with light that is launched into the slow axis. Offered are circulators with no connectors, FC/PC connectors, or FC/APC connectors. Thorlabs also offers Single Mode (SM) Fiber Optical Circulators.

Circulator as an Add/Drop

Circulator used to drop an optical channel from a DWDM system using a Fiber Bragg Grating.

An optical circulator is analogous to an electronic circulator in that both perform similar functions. An optical circulator is a three-port device that allows light to travel in only one direction. A signal entering Port 1 will exit Port 2 with minimal loss, while a signal entering Port 2 will exit Port 3 with minimal loss. Light entering port 2 experiences a large amount of loss at port 1, and light entering port 3 experiences a large amount of loss at ports 2 and 1. Optical circulators are non-reciprocal devices. This means that any changes in the properties of the light caused by passing through the device are not reversed by traveling in the opposite direction.

Because of their high isolation and low insertion loss, optical circulators are widely used in advanced communication systems as add-drop multiplexers, bi-directional pumps, and chromatic dispersion compensation devices.

The example to the left depicts the use of a circulator to drop an optical channel from a DWDM system using a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG). The input DWDM channels are coupled into Port 1 of the device with a FBG device connected to Port 2. The single wavelength reflected from the FBG then reenters the circulator in port 2 and is routed accordingly to Port 3. The remaining signals pass through the FBG and exit on the top fiber.

Circulators can also be used to send optical signal in two directions down a single fiber. A circulator is located at both ends of the fiber. Each circulator functions to add a signal in one direction while removing the signal in the other. See the example to the right.

For custom wavelength and connector options, please contact Technical Support.

Item #	CIR1064PM^a	CIR1310PM^a	CIR1550PM^a	OC-L-1064	OC-L-1550
Optical Specifications
Wavelength Range	1059 - 1069 nm	1280 – 1340 nm	1520 - 1580 nm	1053 – 1075 nm	1530 – 1570 nm
Insertion Loss	≤2.1 dB	≤0.9 dB	≤0.9 dB	1.3 – 1.9 dB	0.9 – 1.3 dB
Isolation^b	≥25 dB	≥40 dB	≥40 dB	30 dB	32 dB
Directivity (1-3)	≥50 dB	≥50 dB	≥50 dB	40 dB	50 dB
Polarization Extinction Ratio	≥20 dB	≥22 dB	≥22 dB	>20 dB	>20 dB
Return Loss	≥50 dB	≥50 dB	≥50 dB	50 dB	55 db
Damage Threshold	300 mW	300 mW	300 mW	3 W	5 W
Mechanical Specifications
Package Dimensions	Ø5.5 mm x 35 mm			32.6 x 44.5 x 63.5 mm^c	17.8 x 25.1 x 60.3 mm^c
Fiber	SM98-PS-U25D	SM13-PS-U25D	SM15-PS-U25D	PM980-XP PANDA-Style PM Fiber, Hytrel Loose Tube, Light in Slow Axis	PM1550-XP PANDA-Style PM Fiber, Hytrel Loose Tube, Light in Slow Axis
Length	1.0 +0.075/-0.0 m			1.2 ± 0.2 m	1.2 ± 0.2 m
Operating Temperature	-5 to 70 °C			10 to 50 °C	10 to 50 °C
Storage Temperature	-40 to 85 °C			-10 to 65 °C	-20 to 70 °C
Operating Relative Humidity	20% - 80%
Storage Relative Humidity	20% - 80%

Specs based on no connector
Internal isolation, assumes connectorized fiber is well-matched
Dimensions do not include collimator or pigtails. See drawings for more information.

Posted Comments:

Yanjing Zhao (posted 2020-10-14 08:05:55.603)

Would you please give me the datasheet of the OC-L-1550 which includes the insertion loss, isolation, etc.?

YLohia (posted 2020-10-14 11:28:10.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. This information is given in the Specs tab on this page.

王猥 (posted 2020-01-11 20:10:52.603)

你好，我之前在贵公司购买了一个保偏光纤环形器，最近在使用中有些问题。激光从1口入射，2口不接任何东西，但是在三口能接受到比较强的光信号，不知道这是不是正常的，不知贵公司能不能帮忙检测这个环形器有没有坏。

YLohia (posted 2020-01-13 09:44:06.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. One of Applications Engineers from our office in China will reach out to you directly regarding this.

yoel.sebbag (posted 2018-10-22 07:48:26.34)

Hi, my name is Yoel Sebbag and I am a Ph.D. student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Is it possible to design a custom PM circulator for a wavelength of 780nm with AFC/PC connector? If yes, how much would it cost? Thank you very much. Best regards, Yoel.

YLohia (posted 2018-10-22 09:18:16.0)

Hello Yoel, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Quotes for custom items can be requested by emailing techsupport@thorlabs.com. I will reach out to you directly to discuss the possibility of offering this.

florian.b.bayer (posted 2018-10-12 13:45:55.95)

Could you specify the length of the fibers more clearly? From the specs table I would assume each of the 3 port fibers being 1m long, is this correct? Is there a difference for the version with connectors? Additionally, what is the reason for the rather large uncertainty of the fiber length, especially in the higher power versions?

nbayconich (posted 2018-10-26 10:13:02.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. That is correct the length indicates the fiber length at each port measured from the circulator housing to either the fiber ferrule or bare fiber end so 1.0 meters long for each fiber for the CIR1064PM circulator. The OC-L-* circulators will all have a +/- 0.2 m tolerance, the design length of the OC-L-1064 IS 1.2 meters ±0.2m while the OC-L-1550 is 2.0 meters ±0.2m. The uncertainty of the fiber length is given to compensate for the amount of fiber needed to cut in the fiber connector termination process.

PM Optical Circulators, 1064 nm

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Center Wavelength 1064 nm
Polarization-Maintaining Fiber With No Connectors, FC/PC Connectors, or FC/APC Connectors
Damage Threshold of 300 mW (CIR1064PM) or 3 W (OC-L-1064)
Fast Axis Blocking

Thorlabs' 1064 nm PM Fiber Optic Circulators are available unterminated, with FC/PC connectors, or with FC/APC connectors. The FC/PC and FC/APC connectors have a 2 mm narrow key. Our OC-L-1064 circulator is a high power circulator with a damage threshold of 3 W.

PM Optical Circulators, 1310 nm

Zoom

Center Wavelength 1310 nm
Polarization-Maintaining Fiber With No Connectors, FC/PC Connectors, or FC/APC Connectors
Damage Threshold of 300 mW
Fast Axis Blocking

Thorlabs' 1310 nm PM Fiber Optic Circulators are available unterminated, with FC/PC connectors, or with FC/APC connectors. The FC/PC and FC/APC connectors have a 2 mm narrow key.

PM Optical Circulators, 1550 nm

Zoom

Center Wavelength 1550 nm
Polarization-Maintaining Fiber With No Connectors, FC/PC Connectors, or FC/APC Connectors
Damage Threshold of 300 mW (CIR1550PM) or 5 W (OC-L-1550)
Fast Axis Blocking

Thorlabs' 1550 nm PM Fiber Optic Circulators are available unterminated, with FC/PC connectors, or with FC/APC connectors. The FC/PC and FC/APC connectors have a 2 mm narrow key. Our OC-L-1550 circulator is a high power circulator with a damage threshold of 5 W.

View All »Matching Part Numbers

Polarization-Maintaining Fiber Optic Circulators

Features

Applications

PM Optical Circulators, 1064 nm

PM Optical Circulators, 1310 nm

PM Optical Circulators, 1550 nm