Phoenix Photonics, the UK-based optical fiber components specialist, will next week unveil two additions to its Firebird Instrumentation product range at OFC (6 - 8 March, booth #2637) as part of a widening portfolio of equipment for the global fiber optics market. The Firebird range launched in September last year with the programmable 4-channel polarization controller gives customers a “plug and play” capability to manage polarization issues.

“We are tremendously excited by the response we have had to Firebird,” says Dean Giles, Operations Director of Phoenix Photonics.

“The polarization scrambling module, designed for integration into polarization test and measurement equipment, and the interface module for our EPC controller represents the next step along our roadmap to realize a series of high quality module and instrument products.”

Utilizing the same technology developed for the 4-channel controller the new compact Polarization Scrambler module is pre-programmed to provide random or scanned polarization for any input state requiring only a simple DC bias. The EPC interface enables direct PC control of the EPC polarization controller.

Phoenix will be displaying its range of polarization products in conjunction with new components that utilize all-fiber technology to stretch the operational wavelength, and fiber type. The Company, which is a technology partner in the 7th Framework EU funded project MODE-GAP, will be showing component developments from their work in the project including:

- LP01 to LP11 tunable mechanical and in-fiber LPG Mode Converters

- 2 micron coupler and polarization control components

“Working with key European researchers in MODE-GAP has enabled us to define and investigate fiber components based on our in-house technology and we are very pleased to be able to release initial products from the work at this early stage. There will be much more to come,” comments Dr Ian Giles, CEO of Phoenix Photonics and Project Manager of MODE-GAP. “It is an exciting time for the company, being able to develop our product range on two fronts, and being part of the process to develop next generation telecommunications systems.”

MODE-GAP is a key project seeking to provide Europe with a lead in the development of the next generation internet infrastructure to address the potential capacity crunch. Combining the expertise of eight world-leading photonics partners, the project is developing transmission technologies based on specialist long-haul transmission fibers, and associated enabling technologies such as novel rare-earth doped optical amplifiers, transmitter and receiver components and data processing techniques to increase the capacity of broadband networks.

Phoenix primarily provides optical fiber components and modules for telecommunications test and measurement instrumentation and sensing systems. The company also supplies university R&D departments and research establishments developing next generation systems.

For further information, or to arrange an interview with Ian Giles, CEO or Dean Giles, Operations Director at OFC in Los Angeles from 6 – 8 March, please contact Emma Johnson or Brian Dolby on +44(0)1636 812152 or by email to [email protected] or [email protected].