Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for optical communications. One of the apparatuses comprises a birefringent crystal configured to separate an incoming light beam input at a first port into component light beams having orthogonal polarization directions and directing the component light beams on respective paths to exit locations on the birefringent crystal; and a Faraday rotator positioned between the birefringent crystal and a beam folding optic assembly, wherein the Faraday rotator is positioned such that light beams exiting the birefringent crystal along a first path from a first exit location pass through the Faraday rotator before being incident on the beam folding optic assembly and that light beams exiting the birefringent crystal along a second path from a second exit location pass directly to the beam folding optic assembly without being incident on the Faraday rotator.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for optical communications. One of the apparatuses comprises a birefringent crystal configured to separate an incoming light beam input at a first port into component light beams having orthogonal polarization directions and directing the component light beams on respective paths to exit locations on the birefringent crystal; and a Faraday rotator positioned between the birefringent crystal and a beam folding optic assembly, wherein the Faraday rotator is positioned such that light beams exiting the birefringent crystal along a first path from a first exit location pass through the Faraday rotator before being incident on the beam folding optic assembly and that light beams exiting the birefringent crystal along a second path from a second exit location pass directly to the beam folding optic assembly without being incident on the Faraday rotator.