Fiber Optomechanics
- Beam Splitters and Combiners
- Collimators
- Fiber Adapters
- Fiber Bragg Grating
- Fiber Optic Couplers
- Fiber Mirrors
- Fiber Optic Attenuators
- Fiber Patch Cords
- Fiber Probes
- Power Shutter and Safety Interlock
- Fiber Tunable Filters
- Fiber Optic Gyroscopes
- Transmitters and Receivers
- Ferrules
- Fiber Alignment Structures
- Fiber Fanouts
- Fiber Coils
FILTER PRODUCTS
Fiber Alignment Structures
Frequently Asked Questions
Fiber alignment structures are optomechanical components that enable precise coupling to and from optical fibers. They often possess 2, 3 or more degrees of freedom to ensure fine alignment between optical fibers or coupling of an optical fiber to or from another optical device or component.
There is a total of 6 degrees of freedom for any structure: 3 rotations and 3 translations around the x, y, and z axes. Fiber alignment structures typically provide control over 2, 3, or all 6 degrees of freedom. Typically, structures offering rotation are known as rotators.
Many fiber optic applications requiring high-precision fiber alignment rely on fiber alignment structures. This includes spectroscopy, nanophotonics, optical communication systems, and biomedical research. Using fiber alignment structures can improve the coupling ratio and reduce any additional losses due to reflections or misalignment.
Yes, fiber alignment stages or rotators can be adjusted to support fiber diameters as small as 3 µm and as large as 6 mm.
Most fiber alignment stages and rotators use micrometers as actuators. Micrometers offer great sensitivity and allow for coarse adjustments and fine adjustments as small as 10 µm and 0.5 µm respectively.
The travel range in fiber alignment structures can be a few millimeters (mm) using coarse adjustments and hundreds of microns (µm) using fine adjustments. This range can be further increased by adding linear translation stages.
Fiber alignment arrays are periodic structures used to align several identical fibers at once. These components are especially important for applications requiring high-density connections or coupling such as optical communication systems
Fiber alignment arrays are made of low CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) glass that is precisely and periodically drilled by laser machines. They contain individual channels etched or molded into the material. These channels serve as channels for individual fibers to be aligned and held in place, usually by an adhesive or other means of bonding. Some fiber alignment arrays may be coated with specialized materials to enhance their performance or protect the fibers from damage.
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