An optical circulator has a first collimator; a first block of birefringent material;
a first compound polarization rotator; a light angle deflector (e.g., Wollaston
prism); a second compound polarization rotator; a second block of birefringent
material; and a second collimator. Light from the first fiber exits the first collimator
along a first path into a first collimated beam that first hits the central plane
on a crossing line between the interface and the central plane such that the first
collimated beam exits the light angle deflector along a second path substantially
parallel to the longitudinal direction and is received by the second fiber. Light
from the second fiber exits the second collimator along the second path into a
second collimated beam that exits the light angle deflector along a third path
and is received by the third fiber.
