IO-5-780-HP

• Designed for 780 nm laser systems with an adjustable narrowband operating range.
• Ø5 mm clear aperture for larger free-space laser beams.
• High-power capability: up to 40 W CW or 500 W/cm² power density.
• High optical transmission: >92%.
• High optical isolation: 38–44 dB.
• Adjustable wavelength range: 780 ± 40 nm.
• Based on the Faraday effect for non-reciprocal optical isolation.
• Designed to protect lasers from back reflections and optical feedback.
• Compact free-space configuration for integration into laboratory optical systems.
• Suitable for high-power laser applications where conventional low-power isolators may not be sufficient.
• Designed for polarization-dependent operation.

The Thorlabs IO-5-780-HP is a high-power, free-space optical isolator designed for laser systems operating around 780 nm. It uses a magneto-optic Faraday rotator to provide non-reciprocal polarization rotation, allowing light to propagate efficiently in the forward direction while strongly attenuating light returning toward the laser source.

The isolator provides >92% transmission and 38–44 dB isolation, making it suitable for demanding optical systems where reflected light can cause laser instability, mode hopping, amplitude modulation, frequency shifts, or other unwanted feedback effects.

A major advantage of the IO-5-780-HP is its high-power capability. It is rated for up to 500 W/cm² and 40 W CW, with a 5 mm aperture. This makes it particularly appropriate for high-power 780 nm laser systems compared with lower-power 780 nm isolators.

The isolator is an adjustable narrowband design with a tuning range of 780 ± 40 nm. This allows the polarization optics and Faraday rotator to be adjusted to achieve maximum isolation within the specified wavelength range.

Because this is a polarization-dependent isolator, the input laser polarization must be correctly aligned with the input polarization axis of the isolator. A half-wave plate can be used after the isolator when rotation of the output polarization direction is required.

Product Type: High-Power Free-Space Optical Isolator
Part Number: IO-5-780-HP
Design Wavelength: 780 nm
Tuning Range: 780 ± 40 nm
Operating Range: 760–800 nm
Isolator Type: Adjustable Narrowband
Isolation: 38–44 dB
Transmission: >92%
Clear Aperture: Ø5 mm
Maximum CW Power Density: 500 W/cm²
Maximum CW Power: 40 W
Operating Principle: Faraday Effect / Non-Reciprocal Polarization Rotation
Optical Configuration: Free Space
Polarization: Polarization Dependent
Adjustment: Adjustable Faraday Rotator / Polarizer Orientation

The 38–44 dB isolation represents the specified performance range, while transmission is greater than 92%. The 40 W and 500 W/cm² ratings should be considered together with the actual beam size, power distribution, and operating conditions of the laser system.

The IO-5-780-HP is suitable for a wide range of high-power laser and photonics applications, including:

• 780 nm Laser Systems
• High-Power Laser Beam Delivery
• Laser Feedback Suppression
• Optical Isolation
• Laser Stabilization
• Atomic Physics
• Rubidium Spectroscopy
• Laser Cooling and Trapping
• Cold Atom Experiments
• Quantum Optics
• Precision Spectroscopy
• Interferometry
• Optical Metrology
• Nonlinear Optics
• Laser Beam Characterization
• Photonics Research
• Scientific and Laboratory Laser Systems

The IO-5-780-HP is particularly well suited to high-power 780 nm laser systems where back-reflected light must be suppressed without significantly reducing forward optical power. Its combination of Ø5 mm aperture, >92% transmission, 38–44 dB isolation, and 40 W CW power capability makes it a strong choice for demanding free-space laser setups.