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In optical communication there are systems requiring a parallel transmission of several high bit rate data channels based on single mode fibers. Especially for a free space transmission within such a system a precise collimation of the parallel channels is necessary to guarantee a low loss system. For this purpose compact two dimensional fiber collimator arrays can be used. A main quality characteristic for these arrays is the pointing accuracy, the angular deviation of the collimated beams to a theoretical optical axis. The angular deviation is caused by a lateral offset of the fiber axes to the axes of the corresponding micro lens. To minimize this offset we developed and analyzed an actor geometry for a fiber array which allows a laser based micro alignment of the fibers to the micro lenses. An alignment accuracy within sub microns can be realized which guarantees a pointing accuracy below 0.01 degrees. In this paper we demonstrate some important results of the FEM based analyzes to show the influence of different laser parameters on the actor behavior. Experimental results confirm the results of the FE analyzes and demonstrate the applicability of laser based micro alignment of fibers for the assembly of highly precise two dimensional fiber collimator arrays.

A set of optical fiber assemblies has been developed and successfully qualified for its use on a European space science mission to the icy moons of Jupiter (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, JUICE), to be launched in 2022. The paper gives an overview of the design challenges, the test methods used for failure detection and screening of the optical fiber cable assemblies as well as the further testing performed in the frame of a lot acceptance qualification.

Fiber cables open up new vistas for the design of modular devices and compact setups for industrial and scientific applications. Special fibers, such as polarization‐maintaining singlemode fibers, are predestined for use in complex, self‐contained setups, increasing laser safety by reducing the laser safety classification. Most importantly, a sensitive and delicate measurement system can still enjoy the benefits of a laser beam, with the desirable features of polarization state and coherence, but be physically separated from the laser source. The measurement setup and the laser source are decoupled mechanically and thermally in order to avoid any mutual negative impacts.