The BC-1 Input Coupler is a convenient way to launch a free-space CW or pulsed laser beam into an optical fibre. It includes focusing and alignment optics, a 1″-diameter mounting disk, and an FC-style fibre optic connector. A well-collimated laser beam enters the aperture in the centre of the mounting disk and is focused into a fibre optic patch cord that is attached to the FC connector. Built-in optics provide two slightly off-axis back reflections to facilitate alignment using a standard two-axis angular optical mount.
Two different versions of the BC-1 Fibre Optic Input Coupler are available. The “F” version is for use with singlemode fibre (nominally 9 µm core diameter) and is typically used with CW lasers. The “D” version is a more convenient way to launch pulsed lasers into fibre because it is adjusted for larger diameter multimode fibre (nominally 60 µm).