Abstract: A device comprising a housing, at least one optical component, such as, for example, a polarizer, contained in the housing, and a base. At least two fixing means are attached to the housing and at least one fixing means is attached to the base. The at least one optical component is fixed at a predetermined position upon mating of at least one of the at least two fixing means attached to the housing with at least one fixing means attached to the base. Such device provides for more precise optical measurements than devices which include optical components that are rotatable through a continuum of angles.

Abstract: A Faraday rotator for rotating a plane of polarization of polarized light, said Faraday rotator having an optical element comprising a rod which is comprised of an optically transmitting composition comprising cadmium, zinc, and tellurium, and preferably from about 30 wt. % to about 48 wt. % cadmium, from about 2 wt. % to about 20 wt. % zinc, and about 50 wt. % tellurium. This Faraday rotator is especially useful an optical isolator for preventing feedback of transmitted light waves.

Abstract: An optical fiber and lens assembly which comprises a housing, an optical fiber, means for rendering the optical fiber immobile within the housing, a lens, and means for moving the lens within the housing. Such an optical fiber and lens assembly enables one to provide controlled movement of the lens, independently of the optical fiber, in response to changes in the focal length of the lens, the wavelength of light, and intended usages of the light.

Abstract: An optical circulator which includes a first birefringent plate for receiving an incident beam of light from a first port, a Faraday rotator, a polarization transforming device, and a second birefringent plate immediately adjacent a second port and the polarization transforming device. The optical circulator further includes means for diverting light traveling from the second port to a direction of travel which is at a right angle to the prior direction of travel, whereby the light is directed to a third port. The diverting means is immediately adjacent the first birefringent plate and the first port, and permits the clear passage of light from the first port to the first birefringent plate. The optical circulator has a simplified design while providing for the efficient transmission of polarized light.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of rotating the plane of polarization of polarized light in a Faraday rotator, having an optical element which includes a ferromagnetic material, which comprises varying the strength of the magnetic field generated along the optical axis of the optical element in response to changes in the wavelength of the polarized light. The magnet employed in the Faraday rotator may be at least one permanent magnet or an electromagnet. Preferred optical elements are made of disc having a gadolinium-gallium-garnet (GGG) or large lattice constant (LLC) substrate, and the substrate is coated with an oxygen--and iron--containing film.

Abstract: A Faraday rotator having a first, or central magnet, and first and second tuning magnets a opposite ends of the central magnet. The central magnet and the tuning magnets are of opposite polarities. The central magnet surrounds a first optical element having a positive or negative Verdet constant, and the tuning magnets surround second and third optical elements, respectively. The second and third optical elements each have a Verdet constant of a sign opposite that of the first optical element. Such Faraday rotators require smaller magnet assemblies than Faraday rotators having just one optical element surrounded by the central magnet. There is also provided a Faraday rotator having at least two magnets wherein each magnet of any one pair of contiguous magnets generates a magnetic field in a direction opposite that generated by the other of the any one pair of contiguous magnets. The optical elements surrounded by these magnets have oppositely signed Verdet constants.