Fiber Collimator
A fiber collimator transforms light emitted by an optical fiber into a collimated beam in free space. It can also be used for fiber-to-fiber coupling or to launch collimated light into a fiber. Avantier designs and manufactures custom optical fiber collimators for a wide range of photonics applications.
Types of Fiber Collimator
The output from an optical fiber can be collimated with a simple collimation lens placed at a fixed distance from the end of the fiber; a distance equal to the focal length. For ease of use, fiber collimators that are mounted to the fiber are often preferred. These come in two types:
Permanently attached designs: Compact and affordable solutions that are ideal for use with bare fibers.
Connectorized Designs: Compatible with a variety of fiber connectors, including FC/PC, FC/APC, and SMA. These designs are more expensive but offer greater flexibility because they can be easily attached or removed from a setup. These optical assemblies may incorporate different lens designs, including gradient-index (GRIN), singlet, doublet, and aspheric lenses.
These devices may be adjustable, with screws for controlling beam directional and working distance, or fixed. It may be polarization maintaining. The optimal design will depend on the specifications of your application, operating wavelength, and desired beam size.
The optimal design will depend on the specifications of your application, operating wavelength, and collimated beam size.
Designs intended to produce large collimated beams will be longer and larger than one designed for a small beam. Collimators to be used in high power laser applications must also be optimized for the high power levels and heat present in such situations.
Applications of Fiber Collimators
Applications of Avantier fiber optic collimators include:
- Free-space to fiber coupling light
- Fiber to detector coupling
- Fiber to fiber coupling
- Sensor technology
- Communications and data transfer
- Components testing and checking
For instance, these devices may be used to couple a free space laser beam into a multi-mode fiber.
Sometimes, a fiber collimator is used together with another optical component to perform a special function. The combination of a fiber collimator and quarter-wave plate will produce a half-wave plate reflector, and a combination of a fiber collimator with a Faraday rotator will produce a fibered Faraday mirror.
Factory Standard
Focal Length | 3.65 mm |
F# | 1.8 |
Spectral Region | 405nm-638nm |
Size | ∅6.8 x 9.28 mm |
Custom Fiber Collimators at Avantier
At Avantier we can produce custom high-performance fiber collimators for every application. Whether you need a non-adjustable, permanently attached collimator for pigtailed fibers or a thermal-resistant adjustable collimator for use with a high powered laser, we can get you what you need. Our experienced optical designers are available to work with you and come up with a solution that provides the collimation you need while surmounting any challenges you might have. Call us today to schedule a first introductory consult or place your custom order.
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