Definitions

# Optical isolator

An optical isolator, or optical diode, is an optical component which allows the transmission of light in only one direction. They are typically used to prevent unwanted feedback into an optical oscillator, such as a laser cavity. The operation of the device depends on the Faraday effect (which in turn is produced by magneto-optic effect), which is used in the main component, the Faraday rotator.

## Theory

The main component of the optical isolator is the Faraday rotator. The magnetic field, $B$, applied to the Faraday rotator causes a rotation in the polarization of the light due to the Faraday effect. The angle of rotation, $beta$, is given by,
$beta=nu B d,$,
where, $nu$ is the Verdet constant of the material (amorphous or critalline; solid, liquid, or gaseous) of which the rotator is made, and $d$ is the length of the rotator. This is shown in Figure 1. Specifically for an optical isolator, the values are chosen to give a rotation of 45 degrees.

## Polarization dependent isolator

The polarization dependent isolator, or Faraday isolator, is made of three parts, an input polarizer (polarized vertically), a Faraday rotator, and an output polarizer, called an analyser (polarized at 45 degrees)

Light travelling in the forward direction becomes polarized vertically by the input polarizer. The Faraday rotator will rotate the polarization by 45 degrees. The analyser then enables the light to be transmitted through the isolator.

Light travelling in the backward direction becomes polarized at 45 degrees by the analyser. The Faraday rotator will again rotate the polarization by 45 degrees. This means the light is polarized horizontally (the rotation is insensitive to direction of propagation). Since the polarizer is vertically aligned, the light will be extinguished.

Figure 2 shows a Faraday rotator with an input polarizer, and an output analyser. For a polarization dependent isolator, the angle between the polarizer and the analyser, $beta$, is set to 45 degrees. The Faraday rotator is chosen to give a 45 degree rotation.

Polarization dependent isolators are typically used in free space optical systems. This is because the polarization of the source is typically maintained by the system. In optical fibre systems, the polarization direction is typically dispersed in non polarization maintaining systems. Hence the angle of polarization will lead to a loss.

## Polarization independent isolator

The polarization independent isolator is made of three parts, an input birefringent wedge (with its ordinary polarization direction vertical and its extra-ordinary polarization direction horizontal), a Faraday rotator, and an output birefringent wedge (with its ordinary polarization direction at 45 degrees, and its extra-ordinary polarization direction at -45 degrees).

Light travelling in the forward direction is split by the input birefringent wedge into its vertical (0 degrees) and horizontal (90 degrees) components, called the ordinary-ray (o-ray) and the extra-ordinary ray (e-ray) respectively. The Faraday rotator rotates both the o-ray and e-ray by 45 degrees. This means the o-ray is now at 45 degrees, and the e-ray is at -45 degrees. The output birefringent wedge then recombines the two components.

Light travelling in the backward direction is separated into is o-ray at 45 degrees, and the e-ray at -45 degrees by the birefringent wedge. The Faraday Rotator again rotates both the rays by 45 degrees. Now the o-ray is at 90 degrees, and the e-ray is at 0 degrees. Instead of being focused by the second birefringent wedge, the rays diverge.

Typically collimators are used on either side of the isolator. In the transmitted direction the beam is split and then combined and focused into the output collimator. In the isolated direction the beam is split, and then diverged, so it does not focus at the collimator.

Figure 3 shows the propagation of light through a polarization independent isolator. The forward travelling light is shown in blue, and the backward propagating light is shown in red. The rays were traced using an ordinary refractive index of 2, and an extra-ordinary refractive index of 3. The wedge angle is 7 degrees.

The most important optical element in an isolator is the Faraday rotator. The characteristics that one looks for in a Faraday rotator optic include a high Verdet constant, low absorption coefficient, low non-linear refractive index and high damage threshold. Also, to prevent self-focusing and other thermal related effects, the optic should be as short as possible. The two most commonly used materials for the 700-1100nm range are terbium doped borosilicate glass and terbium gallium garnet crystal (TGG). For long distance fibre communication, typically at 1310 nm or 1550 nm, yttrium iron garnet crystals are used (YIG). Commercial YIG based Faraday isolators reach isolations higher than 30 dB.

Optical isolators are different from 1/4 wave plate based isolators because the Faraday rotator provides non-reciprocal rotation while maintaining linear polarization. That is, the polarization rotation due to the Faraday rotator is always in the same relative direction. So the in the forward direction, the rotation is positive 45 degrees. In the reverse direction the rotation is negative 45 degrees. This is due to the change in the relative magnetic field direction, positive one way, negative the other. This then adds to a total of 90 degrees when the light travels in the forward direction and then the negative direction. This allows the higher isolation to be achieved.

## Optical isolators and thermodynamics

It might seem at first glance that a device that allows light to flow in only one direction would violate Kirchhoff's law and the second law of thermodynamics, by allowing light energy to flow from a cold object to a hot object and blocking it in the other direction, but the violation is avoided because the isolator must absorb (not reflect) the light from the hot object and will eventually reradiate it to the cold one.