Telecommunications Instruments
Thorlabs offers a selection of communication instruments that are ideal for telecommunications (telecom) applications. The products listed below operate at or are compatible with common telecom wavelengths, including 850 nm, 1310 nm, and 1550 nm.
- Fiber Test & Measurement
- Telecommunications Instruments
- PRO8 Modular Laser Diode Platform
- Optical Spectrum Analyzers
- Optical Switches
- High-Dynamic-Range Polarimeters
- Extinction Ratio Meter
- Fiber Photodiode Power Sensors
- 1.533 Μm Frequency-Locked Laser
- Fiber End Face Interferometer
- Portable Connector End Face Geometry Interferometer
- Mode-Conditioned Light Sources
- Incoherent Sources
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Transmitters
We offer reference transmitters for both digital and linear applications, calibrated electrical-to-optical converters for use with VNAs, and optical transmitters with phase modulators. These devices are based on proven lithium niobate (LiNbO3) modulator technology driven by high-fidelity RF amplifiers.
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Receivers
Our selection of ultrafast photoreceivers for telecom applications provide bandwidths up to 40 GHz. They are available as fully operational instruments or in compact, hermetically sealed packages for OEM applications.
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Telecom Optical Amplifiers
Thorlabs' optical amplifiers for telecom applications are available as complete benchtop systems or as pigtailed butterfly packages. Our line of benchtop optical amplifiers includes a praseodymium-doped fluoride fiber amplifier (PDFA) and erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). Our optical amplifiers available in pigtailed butterfly packages include InP/InGaAsP or GaAs/InGaAs semiconductor optical amplifiers (BOAs or SOAs), and high-speed optical switches.
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Electro-Optic Modulators
Thorlabs’ selection of electro-optic (EO) modulators includes free-space and fiber-coupled LiNbO3 modulators. Free-space amplitude, phase, or resonant modulators can operate at speeds up to 100 MHz. We also offer liquid crystal EO modulators for speeds up to 2.5 kHz. Fiber-coupled intensity, phase, or IQ modulators for speeds up to 40 GHz can be driven by our EO modulator drivers. A modulator bias controller is also available for use with fiber-coupled intensity modulators.
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Telecom Fiber Couplers
Thorlabs offers a varied selection of single mode (SM) and polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber couplers, as well as single mode 1x8 and 1x16 PLC waveguide splitters that have center wavelengths at common telecom wavelengths, including 850 nm, 1310 nm, and 1550 nm.
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Two-wavelength SM WDMs
Wavelength Division Multiplexers (WDMs) are used to combine or split two different single mode signals with low insertion loss. Thorlabs' WDMs featured on this page are manufactured using Fused Biconic Taper (FBT) technology and are designed for common NIR and telecom wavelengths (see the table to the right for options). They are an ideal solution for combining pump and signal wavelengths in fiber lasers and amplifiers or for combining telecom signals. Our WDMs have undergone extensive testing to ensure they meet or surpass Telcordia requirements; please see the Reliability Testing tab for details.
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2-Wavelength, Polarization-Maintaining WDMs
Thorlabs' Fused Polarization Maintaining (PM) Wavelength Division Multiplexers (WDMs) combine two wavelengths of light in PM fiber while maintaining the polarization of the incident light. These WDMs are reversible; they can also be used to split two discrete wavelengths entering the common port into two separate output ports. They are not designed to split the output from a broadband source. PM WDMs are often used for pump / signal applications that incorporate erbium-doped or ytterbium-doped fiber amplifiers. They can be readily customized for a wide variety of applications, enabling rapid design cycles and new project builds. For custom requests, please contact Tech Support.
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Premium Microwave Cables And Adapters
Thorlabs' Microwave Cables and Adapter Cables are flexible, high-performance, coaxial cable assemblies designed for use out to 50 GHz, depending on connector type (see the image to the right). The design gives these cables flexibility while maintaining optimal performance. They exhibit low VSWRs (Voltage Standing Wave Ratios) over the usable frequency range, as well as low insertion losses (see the Specs tab). These cables are each tested to ensure performance.
