OPTICAL ISOLATOR

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical isolator having a magnet, capable of solving the problem of reduction of a clear aperture resultant from misalignment of optical paths that occur between a light incidence plane and a light-emitting plane of each optical element disposed in a sloped manner, and the problem of misalignment of optical paths that occur between the incidence side and the emission side of the optical isolator, by only fitting and storing each optical element to it. SOLUTION: The optical isolator has a through-hole in its magnet. A Faraday rotator is stored inside the magnet through the through-hole, in a way that it is exposed. Two light polarizers and the Faraday rotator are arranged in a flat shape. A concave part is formed for storing each of the light polarizers at both sides of the magnet on the light incidence side and the light emission side of the optical isolator, without their protruding from either side of the magnet. The two light polarizers are stored inside the concave, respectively, and one surface of the magnet is formed into a planar shape. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI