2x2 Double-Clad Fiber Couplers
![](https://www.thorlabs.us/Images/GuideImages/8400_Double-CladCoupler_3.jpg)
- Wideband Double-Clad Fiber Couplers for 530 nm, 780 nm, or 1060 nm
- Ideal for OCT or Confocal Microscopy Applications
- Single Mode Core Insertion Loss: ≤0.5 dB
- At Least 60% Multimode Inner Cladding Transfer
DC780SEB
780 nm Double-Clad Fiber
Coupler, No Connectors
DC530SEFA
530 nm Double-Clad Fiber Coupler with Connectors
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Please Wait
![Double-Clad_Fiber_Coupler](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/DC1300_Double-Clad_Fiber_Coupler_D1-450.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
The schematic above shows the internal structure of a double-clad fiber coupler. Single mode light input at Port A is used to illuminate a sample at Port S. Single mode and multimode light from the sample enters the single mode core (shown in red) and multimode inner cladding (shown in grey) of the DCF at Port S. The single mode signal travels through the core of the DCF and is output at port A; the multimode signal is transferred from the DCF to the multimode fiber and is output at Port B.
Applications
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Fluorescence Imaging
- Confocal Microscopy
- Spectroscopy
- Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Sensing
- Speckle-Free Single-Fiber Endoscopy
- LIDAR
![](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/DC1300LEB_NoCouplers_dwg_450.gif)
Fiber leads containing double-clad fiber are color-coded white (Ports A and S) and fiber leads containing multimode fiber are color-coded orange (Ports B and R).
Features
- Three Wavelength Ranges
- 430 - 680 nm
- 680 - 980 nm
- 960 - 1260 nm
- ≤0.5 dB Single Mode Core Insertion Loss
- At Least 60% Multimode Inner Cladding Transfer
- 0.5 m or 0.8 m +0.075 / -0.0 m Long Fiber Leads
- Individualized Data Sheet Included with Each Coupler
(See the Verification Tab; Sample Data Sheets Available for 530 nm, 780 nm, or 1060 nm)
Thorlabs is collaborating with strategic partner Castor Optics to design and manufacture a family of Double-Clad Fiber Couplers. These 2x2 Double-Clad Fiber Couplers combine a double-clad fiber (single mode core surrounded by a multimode inner cladding) with a standard step-index multimode fiber, as shown in the illustration to the right. Light in the single mode core transmits with virtually no loss over the 430 - 680 nm, 680 - 980 nm, or 960 - 1260 nm wavelength range, depending upon the coupler. The multimode transfer, defined as the ratio of the output signal at Port B to the input signal at Port S, is ≥60% over a wider wavelength range of 400 - 1750 nm, excluding the water absorption region around 1383 nm. The diagram to the right depicts both single mode and multimode signals through a DCF coupler. Double-clad fiber couplers are well suited for applications at 530 nm, 780 nm, or 1060 nm.
These optical properties allow double-clad fiber couplers to function as an alternative to free-space assemblies in many applications, including imaging and sensing. Our 1060 nm couplers are useful for applications such as spectrally encoded scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SESLO) OCT, which enable applications such as non-invasive imaging of the human retina. Our 530 nm and 780 nm couplers feature a small inner cladding (Ø15 µm and Ø26 µm, respectively) that make them ideal for applications in confocal microscopy. Please see the Applications tab for more information.
The fiber in each leg is jacketed in a Ø900 µm Hytrel®* tube, color-coded white for the DCF legs (Port A and Port S) and orange for the MM fiber legs (Port B and Port R), as shown in the schematic to the right.
These couplers are housed inside of a protective tube and are available with either all four legs unterminated (780 nm only) or with a mix of 2.0 mm narrow key FC/PC and FC/APC connectors. In general, FC/APC connectors reduce back reflections from the single mode core of the double-clad fiber leg of the coupler; reflection is not an issue for the multimode output port, so an FC/PC connector is used for easier integration with other fiber components. The DC530SEFA, DC780SEFA, and DC1060LEFA include an FC/PC connector on port R to allow for connection to a beam trap when used with a mating sleeve. Please refer to the diagrams in the tables below for specific connector configurations.
Custom connector configurations and different performance characteristics may be available; please contact info@castoroptics.com with all custom inquiries.
*Hytrel® is a registered trademark of DuPont Polymers, Inc.
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Clicking this icon below will open a window that contains specifications and drawings. |
Double-Clad Fiber Coupler (DCFC) Applications
Double-Clad Fiber Couplers can be implemented in many imaging, photonics, and LIDAR applications. The examples below specifically illustrate how DCFCs can be used in confocal microscopy, OCT, and endoscopy applications.
![](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/DCF_Coupler_780nm_A1-300.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Figure 1. Comparison of confocal images taken using a single mode fiber coupler (left) and DC780SEFA DCFC (right).
Confocal Microscopy and Partially Coherent Detectiona
In a free-space confocal microscope, pinhole apertures only allow coherent light at the focal plane to reach the detector, which enables optical sectioning and high-resolution images over a narrow focal plane. Widening the detection aperture allows a small amount of partially coherent light to reach the detector, creating images with reduced speckle noise and increased contrast, but slightly reduced resolution.
This same effect can be achieved using a small-diameter DCFC, such as the DC780SEFA or DC780SEB. In this scenario, the single mode core acts as an illumination pinhole while the small inner cladding (Ø26 µm) serves the purpose of the detection pinhole. Together, the core and inner cladding enable optical sectioning of the image just as in free space confocal microscopy. Using a DCFC in this manner ensures that the pinholes are always conjugate, because the detection pinhole surrounds the illumination pinhole. Finally, because the inner cladding diameter is just slightly larger than the core diameter, a small amount of partially coherent light is accepted, which reduces speckle noise and increases contrast.
Figure 1 compares images taken of a swine thyroid tissue section using a 50:50 single mode fiber coupler and a DC780SEFA DCFC, respectively. As seen in comparing the white and red boxed sections in the left and right images, using a DCFC reduces speckle artifacts in the image while increasing contrast of cellular features within the tissue sample. Figure 2 shows a series of confocal images taken of swine muscle tissue at depths from 15 µm to 105 µm using a single mode fiber coupler and a DC780SEB double-clad fiber coupler.
Optical Coherence Tomography and Fluorescence Imagingb
![Double-Clad Coupler Combined OCT and Fluoresence Image](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double_Clad_Coupler_OCT_A2-200.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Figure 5. Combined OCT and Fluorescence Image
![Double-Clad Coupler Fluoresence Image](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double-Clad_Coupler_Fluoresence_A1-200.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Figure 4. Fluorescence Image
![Double-Clad Coupler OCT](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double_Clad_Coupler_OCT_A1-200.jpg)
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Figure 3. OCT Image
DCFCs can also be used instead of traditional dichroic beamsplitters to allow both OCT and fluorescence imaging of a sample using the same objective and scanning optics. The OCT signal (Figure 3) is collected in the single mode core of the double-clad fiber (DCF), while the fluorescence signal (Figure 4) is collected in the cladding. The core and cladding signals can be combined to produce a detailed image that distinguishes between bronchioles and blood vessels, as shown in Figure 5.
![Double-Clad Coupler Endoscopy](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double-Clad_Coupler_Endoscopy_A2-150.jpg)
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Figure 7. Endoscopy Image Obtained Using an SM Fiber Coupler
![Double-Clad Coupler Endoscopy](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double-Clad_Coupler_Endoscopy_A1-150.jpg)
Figure 6. Photo of Sample
![Double-Clad Coupler Endoscopy](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double-Clad_Coupler_Endoscopy_A4-150.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Figure 9. 3D Image Generated from Speckle-Free Endoscopy Using a Double-Clad Fiber Coupler
![Double-Clad Coupler Endoscopy](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double-Clad_Coupler_Endoscopy_A3-150.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Figure 8. Speckle-Free Endoscopy Image Obtained Using a Double-Clad Fiber Coupler
Speckle-Free Endoscopyc
DCFCs can be used instead of traditional single mode 2x2 couplers in single-fiber endoscopy systems. When imaging a sample (Figure 6) with single mode fiber, laser speckle is present (Figure 7). Using both the single mode core and multimode cladding of the DCF for signal collection generates a higher quality image (Figure 8). Data from the core and inner cladding can also be used to create a three dimensional rendering of the subject as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 10 shows a sequence of 99 images of a wasp head obtained using a DCFC. Speckle-free reflectance maps are acquired using light collected from the multimode cladding of the DCF (left panel of the video). The right panel of the video shows an overlay of the interferometric height profiles collected using the DCF single mode core on top of the reflectance maps. This technique enables the construction of a 3-D profile of the specimen and requires no special sample preparation.
References
Double-Clad Fiber Coupler Verification
Our double-clad fiber couplers undergo stringent verification testing during production. The setups shown below are used to obtain a single mode transmission spectrum, insertion loss, and the multimode inner cladding transfer specification. Each coupler is shipped with an individualized data sheet providing a summary of the results of these tests. Click for a sample data sheet for 530 nm, 780 nm, or 1060 nm.
![Double-Clad Fiber Coupler Verification Procedure](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double-Clad_Coupler_Verification_D1-450.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Single Mode Insertion Loss and Transmission Measurement
Step 1: Single Mode Insertion Loss/Transmission Measurement
The single mode input of the coupler is connected to a Broadband Light Source (BBS) through a single mode fiber and a spool of double-clad fiber (DCF). The SM coupler output is spliced to a coiled SM patch cable (to ensure cladding modes are stripped) that is connected to an Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA). A spectrum is recorded before and after the fibers are fused to create the coupler. The difference between the two spectra can be defined as either Insertion Loss (dB) or Transmission (%).
Step 2: Multimode Transfer Measurement
![Double-Clad Fiber Coupler Verification Procedure](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Double-Clad_Coupler_Verification_D2-450.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Multimode Transfer Measurement
The multimode input of the coupler is connected to a diffused 635 nm laser source through a Ø105 µm core / Ø125 μm cladding multimode fiber and a spool of DCF. Doing so ensures that the inner cladding modes are filled. The Ø200 µm core / Ø220 μm cladding multimode fiber output of the coupler is connected to a silicon photodiode optical power meter. A first optical power is recorded. The coupler is then removed from the measurement setup and the DCF spool is connected directly to the same power meter. A second optical power is recorded. The Multimode Inner Cladding Transfer is defined as the ratio of the first to second power measurements (%).
![](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Castor_Logo_A1-200.jpg)
Castor Optics, a Montreal-based leading manufacturer of double-clad fiber couplers, has been a key strategic partner of Thorlabs since 2013. Castor was founded by Caroline Boudoux, Nicolas Godbout, Normand Brais, and Alex Cable to commercialize the innovative fiber coupler technology developed in the laboratory by Caroline Boudoux and Nicolas Godbout. The team at Castor works closely with Thorlabs' Montreal office to bring to market a broad range of fiber-based optical components for next-generation medical imaging devices and advanced instrumentation for use in the physical sciences.
About Caroline Boudoux
Caroline Boudoux earned her PhD from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology in 2007. She is an associate professor of engineering physics and principal investigator for the Laboratory for Optical Diagnoses and Imaging at École Polytechnique Montréal, a researcher at Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, and a visiting professor in the Department of Otology and Laryngology at Harvard Medical School. Her areas of research include biomedical imaging, optical coherence tomography, confocal and nonlinear microscopy, and endoscopic imaging.
About Nicolas Godbout
Nicolas Godbout earned his PhD in Engineering Physics from École Polytechnique de Montréal in 2000. Follwing this, he led the optical design team at ITF Optical Technologies. He is currently a professor and principal investigator for the Optical Fibers Laboratory at École Polytechnique Montréal. His research interests include nonlinear and quantum optics, fiber lasers, fiber-optic design and fabrication, characterization techniques, and biophotonics.
![](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Castor_Caroline_A1-200.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Professor Boudoux in the Laboratory
© Yves Beaulieu/Polytechnique Montréal
![](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/tabimages/Castor_Tradeshow_Neuro_A1-200.jpg)
Click to Enlarge
Castor Optics at Photonics West 2016 Tradeshow
2015 Conference Presentations
L. Hariri, L. Bernstein, D. C. Adams, W.-J. Madore, A. J. Miller, M. Strupler, E. De Montigny, K. Beaudette, N. Godbout, C. Boudoux, and M. J. Suter. "Multimodal optical coherence tomography and fluorescence spectroscopy MEMS probe to assess inflammation in acute lung injury," in SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, 2015.
L. Bernstein, L. Hariri, W.-J. Madore, D. C. Adams, M. Strupler, E. De Montigny, K. Beaudette, Y. Wang, N. Godbout, M. J. Suter, and C. Boudoux. "Multimodal dual-clad fiber MEMS probe for simultaneous OCT and fluorescence imaging of inflammation in the lung," in SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, 2015.
K. Beaudette, M. L. Villiger, M. Strupler, M. Shishkov, J. Ren,W.-J. Madore, N. Godbout, B. E. Bouma, and C. Boudoux. "Double clad fiber devices for combined optical coherence tomography and laser tissue coagulation," in SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, 2015.
Combined OCT and Fluorescence Imaging
D. Lorenser, B. C. Quirk, M. Auger,W.-J. Madore, R.W. Kirk, N. Godbout, D. D. Sampson, C. Boudoux, and R. A. McLaughlin. "Dual-modality needle probe for combined fluorescence imaging and three-dimensional
optical coherence tomography," Optics Letters, 38, 266 - 268 (2013).
L. Scolaro, L. Dirk, W.-J. Madore, A. Kramer, G. C. Yeoh, N. Godbout, D. D. Sampson, C. Boudoux, and R. A. McLaughlin, "Dual-modality Imaging Needle for Combined Optical Coherence Tomography and Fluorescence Imaging of Fluorescently Labelled Tissue," in Biomedical Optics 2014, OSA Technical Digest (online) (Optical Society of America, 2014), paper BS2B.7.
Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Sensing
M. D. Baiad, M. Gagné, S. Lemire-Renaud, E. De Montigny, W.-J. Madore, N. Godbout, C. Boudoux, and R. Kashyap. "Capturing reflected cladding modes from a fiber Bragg grating with a double-clad fiber coupler," Optics Express, 21, 6873 - 6879 (2013).
M. D. Baiad, M. Gagné, W.-J. Madore, E. De Montigny, N. Godbout, C. Boudoux, and R. Kashyap. "Surface plasmon resonance sensor interrogation with a double-clad fiber coupler and cladding modes excited by a tilted fiber Bragg grating," Optics Letters, 38, 4911 - 4914 (2013).
Speckle-Free Imaging
W.-J. Madore, E. De Montigny, O. Ouellette, S. Lemire-Renaud, M. Leduc, X. Daxhelet, N. Godbout, and C. Boudoux. "Asymmetric double-clad fiber couplers for endoscopy," Optics Letters, 38, 4514 - 4517 (2013).
S. Lemire-Renaud, M. Rivard, M. Strupler, D. Morneau, F. Verpillat, X. Daxhelet, N. Godbout, and C. Boudoux. "Double-clad fiber coupler for endoscopy," Optics Express, 18, 9755 - 9764 (2010).
Confocal Microscopy
E. De Montigny, W.-J. Madore, O. Ouellette, G. Bernard, M. Leduc, M. Strupler, C. Boudoux, N. Godbout, "Double-clad fiber for partially coherent detection," Optics Express, 23, 9040 - 9051 (2015).
Posted Comments: | |
Ji Ren
 (posted 2024-07-18 10:19:10.883) Hi thorlabs,
I bought DC530SEFA and tested the fiber "directivity", coupling loss from port A to port B.
The setup is PM460 fiber coupled to port A(~350uW 520nm laser diode light),and I measured ~1.87uW at port B. Is this normal for DC530SEFA? How can I use it for confocal microscopy if the illumination light is somehow directly coupled back to detector port?
Besides I measured the directivity for 488nm and 660nm, performance is similar, around 0.5% leak.
B&R cdolbashian
 (posted 2024-07-01 01:47:30.0) Thank you for reaching out to us with your inquiry. I have reached out to you directly to acquire a copy of your manuscript. We will discuss this internally to evaluate the feasibility of including this in our list of select publications. 隆之介 後藤
 (posted 2023-08-17 09:59:22.897) いつもお世話になっております。
広島大学の後藤と申します。
DC780SEFAのJacketの大きさを900µm から 3mmに変更することは可能でしょうか。もし、難しいようであればファイバーが折れにくくするためのアイデアをご教示いただけますと幸いです。
宜しくお願い致します。 jdelia
 (posted 2023-08-17 11:40:09.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Your local tech support team will reach out to you directly regarding the possibility of this customized part. jgreschler
 (posted 2022-10-11 09:36:07.0) Thank you for reaching out to Thorlabs. Custom items can be requested by emailing techsupport@thorlabs.com for discussion and quote. I have reached out to you directly to discuss this request. Susan Thomas
 (posted 2022-05-04 17:23:55.12) For the coupler DC780, Port R is an unused port that has to be terminated. Fiber optic terminator FTFC1 has FC/PC end with 2 mm narrow key. But I could find the PC to PC mating sleeve with a wide key only. Is there a PC to PC mating sleeve with narrow key? cdolbashian
 (posted 2022-05-10 04:07:31.0) Thank you for reaching out to us Susan. The FC/APC fiber mating sleeves are identical to the FC/PC, with the specific difference of a narrow key to ensure better alignment of the APC ferrule. Susan Thomas
 (posted 2022-04-18 19:11:29.57) In my experimental setup, I would like to try reflectance imaging at 830 nm and 520nm. Is it possible to use the same coupler DC780SEB for both source wavelengths with good transmission at both wavelengths?
How about using DC530SEFA for the above? does it have good transmission at 830 nm? jgreschler
 (posted 2022-05-03 10:43:34.0) Thank you for reaching out to Thorlabs. The wavelength range for DC780DEB is 680-980nm, the wavelength range for DC530SEFA is 430-680nm. Unfortunately neither range fully covers the two target wavelengths you are using. We do have alternative fiber components, namely a WDM, that can mix and separate the two wavelengths in question. Ajay Gunalan
 (posted 2021-03-17 05:48:31.783) Hi,
We would like to couple OCT into the inner core of DCF and high power CO_2 laser into the inner cladding of DCF for simultaneous tissue ablation and monitoring through OCT. Can we use this coupler for our use case?
I would like to know the power density capacity of this coupler. Can it withstand high-power laser? If so, what is the permissible limit in power-density per cm^2 YLohia
 (posted 2021-03-30 10:45:32.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. These are silica-based fibers, which means that they're not suitable for CO2 laser (10.6 um) applications. Markus Wahl
 (posted 2021-01-12 08:48:19.467) Greetings!
It would be great to get the fibers used in these couplers separately (and/or as patch cords). We are currently exploring some new geometries, which involves repeated cutting and splicing the ends of the coupler. To prevent the coupler getting smaller and smaller, some additional fiber would make life much easier.
Thank you. YLohia
 (posted 2021-01-12 02:26:13.0) Hello Markus, custom patch cables made of the double-clad fibers used in these couplers can be requested by emailing info@castoroptics.com. johannesrebling
 (posted 2018-03-29 13:58:47.413) Is it possible to use the coupler in the opposite way. I.e. using port r to couple light into the multimode fiber and port s to couple light into the singlemode fiber and to have both output (with high transmission efficiency) at port a? (or equivalently coupling to ports b (MMF) and a (SMF) and output at port s) nbayconich
 (posted 2018-04-24 03:23:51.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. You can technically use the DC coupler in this configuration however, the principal to how this coupler works is to gather backreflected light into it's single mode core and MM cladding in order to allow sectioning of an image while increasing contrast by using the MM back reflected signal.
Light that is coupled into the single mode core will not split in this type of coupler only light that is coupled into the multimode inner cladding in other words the coherent signal sent into the SM core at ports A or S will not split into ports R or B. f.dinoia
 (posted 2017-06-19 11:21:48.75) Good morning,
in our setup we will need to couple 785nm and 1550nm light in the core of a double clad fiber. We will couple our two sources in a single mode fiber, and then the idea is to use a DCFC. Do you have any solution for low core insertion losses for both these wavelengths?
Thank you nbayconich
 (posted 2017-07-03 10:02:05.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. One possible solution is to use a WDM to combine your 785nm and 1550nm source into the DCFC. I will contact you directly to discuss your application. |
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Item # | Info | Wavelength Range |
Core Insertion Lossa (Click for Plot) |
Multimode Inner Cladding Transferb |
DCF Core NA |
DCF Inner Cladding Diameter |
DCF Inner Cladding NA |
MM Fiber Core NA |
Terminationc (Click for Diagram) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DC530SEFA | ![]() |
430 - 680 nm | ≤0.5 dB | ≥70% | 0.11 | 15 µm | 0.19 | 0.22 | Ports A and S: FC/APC Ports B and R: FC/PC |
![Back to Top Back to Top](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/arrow_Vert.gif)
Item # | Info | Wavelength Range |
Core Insertion Lossa (Click for Plot) |
Multimode Inner Cladding Transferb |
DCF Core NA |
DCF Inner Cladding Diameter |
DCF Inner Cladding NA |
MM Fiber Core NA |
Terminationc (Click for Diagram) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DC780SEB | ![]() |
680 - 980 nm | ≤0.5 dB | ≥70% | 0.12 | 26 µm | 0.19 | 0.22 | Unterminated, Scissor Cut |
DC780SEFA | ![]() |
Ports A and S: FC/APC Ports B and R: FC/PC |
![Back to Top Back to Top](https://www.thorlabs.us/images/arrow_Vert.gif)
Item # | Info | Wavelength Range |
Core Insertion Lossa (Click for Plot) |
Multimode Inner Cladding Transferb |
DCF Core NA |
DCF Inner Cladding Diameter |
DCF Inner Cladding NA |
MM Fiber Core NA |
Terminationc (Click for Diagram) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DC1060LEFA | ![]() |
960 - 1260 nm | ≤0.5 dB | ≥60% | 0.19 | 102 µm | 0.24 | 0.26 | Ports A and S: FC/APC Ports B and R: FC/PC |