AOE Tech PMCOL1310 Polarization-Maintaining Fiber Collimator

Overview

The AOE Tech PMCOL1310 is a precision-engineered polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber collimator designed for stable, high-fidelity beam delivery in interferometric, sensing, and quantum optics systems. Based on the principle of collimating divergent light from the core of a polarization-maintaining panda-type fiber using an anti-reflection (AR)-coated aspheric lens, this collimator preserves the linear polarization state with minimal cross-coupling between fast and slow axes. Its optical architecture ensures Gaussian beam propagation with low wavefront distortion and controlled beam divergence—critical for coupling into free-space isolators, Faraday rotators, bulk-optic modulators, and PM-based DWDM multiplexers. The device is optimized for 1310 nm operation—a key wavelength in telecom O-band transmission and fiber-optic sensing applications—and maintains alignment integrity under thermal cycling and mechanical vibration per IEC 61300-2-4 and -2-5 test protocols.

Key Features

• Polarization extinction ratio (ER) ≥25 dB (unconnectorized), maintained via precise slow-axis alignment of PM fiber and connector key
• Low insertion loss (IL) ≤0.8 dB (unconnectorized); IL increases by ≤0.3 dB per added connector
• High return loss (RL) ≥55 dB (unconnectorized); RL decreases by ≤5 dB per connector
• AR-coated aspheric lens with 1 W continuous-wave power handling
• Hermetically sealed stainless-steel housing with Ø5.5 mm outer diameter and 12.7 mm length for OEM integration
• Compliant with RoHS 2015/863/EU and REACH SVHC screening requirements

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The PMCOL1310 is compatible with standard 125 µm cladding, 80 µm coated PM panda fiber (Corning PM1300 or equivalent) and supports FC/PC, FC/APC, or SC/PC connectorization upon request. All units undergo 100% end-face inspection per IEC 61300-3-35 (fiber connector geometry) and pass 100-hour damp heat testing (85°C / 85% RH) in accordance with Telcordia GR-1221-CORE. Mechanical robustness is verified via shock (50 g, 11 ms half-sine) and vibration (10–500 Hz, 0.04 g²/Hz PSD) per MIL-STD-883H Method 2007. The collimator meets dimensional tolerances specified in ISO 286-2 (ISO tolerance class h6 for housing OD) and supports traceable calibration reports (NIST-traceable power meter and polarization analyzer verification available).

Software & Data Management

While the PMCOL1310 is a passive optical component requiring no firmware or driver software, its performance data—including measured IL, RL, ER, beam waist position, and M² factor—is documented in a standardized test report compliant with ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Each unit ships with a unique serial number linked to a digital certificate of conformance (CoC), including spectral reflectance scan data (350–1700 nm) and polarization-dependent loss (PDL) <0.05 dB over operating temperature range (−5 °C to +70 °C). For GMP/GLP environments, audit-ready documentation packages support FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic record retention when integrated with validated LIMS platforms.

Applications

• Free-space coupling in PM fiber-integrated interferometers (e.g., Michelson, Mach-Zehnder for strain/temperature sensing)
• Input/output interfaces for PM isolators, circulators, and polarization beam splitters in coherent detection systems
• Seed source conditioning in high-power fiber laser pump combiners and MOPA architectures
• Quantum key distribution (QKD) transceivers requiring deterministic polarization state preservation
• O-band optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) modules where polarization-dependent measurement drift must be minimized
• Calibration references in metrology labs performing PM fiber birefringence characterization per ITU-T G.652.D Annex D

FAQ

What is the slow-axis alignment tolerance relative to the housing key?
The slow axis is aligned to the housing flat within ±1.5°, verified via polarization-resolved near-field imaging.
Can the PMCOL1310 be used at 1550 nm?
No—its AR coating is optimized for 1260–1360 nm; use PMCOL1550 for C-band operation.
Is custom focal length available?
Yes—standard focal lengths are 7.5 mm and 11.0 mm; other values (4.5–25 mm) are available under OEM agreement.
Do you provide polarization-dependent loss (PDL) data?
Yes—PDL is measured across the full operating bandwidth and reported in the CoC; typical value is <0.05 dB.
How is beam divergence specified and measured?
Full-angle divergence (1/e² intensity) is measured per ISO 11146-1 using a scanning slit profiler; nominal value is 2.4 mrad ±0.3 mrad at 1310 nm.