Nano-optical isolators enable smaller transceivers, transponders
March 14, 2005 Somerset, NJ -- NanoOpto, an optical components developer known for proprietary nano-fabrication technology, has announced the availability of its SubWave family of nano-structured optical isolators which, according to the company, reduce both cost and device size for data- and telecommunications transceivers and transponders. The company's nano-lithography methodology is used to manufacture surface mount, cylindrical mount, and magnet-less isolators for specific applications.
The device's proprietary nano-structure design directly integrates required polarization functions on the surface of a garnet Faraday rotator, thereby creating isolator cores as thin as 0.5 mm or less, a 30% reduction over traditional isolator designs, according to the company. The device thus enables physically smaller isolators on the order of 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm, depending upon application. The company says the devices can either be used in standard transceiver designs, or as the basis for compact original architectures.
Individual device models support either the 1550-nm C-band or 1310-nm bands for telecom and data applications. Models are available packaged with a magnetic housing for standard applications, or in a magnet-less design using latched garnet as the substrate for the nano-optics.
The devices are currently in production, with standard isolators available for immediate sampling.