Anamorphic beam shaping optics are, e.g., used to transform elliptical laser beams to a round shape before coupling them to single‐mode optical fibers. Conversely, there are cases where originally round laser beams need to be transformed into an elliptical shape. The article describes some sample applications and discusses several concepts of anamorphic beam shaping and their respective advantages and disadvantages.

The state of polarization plays an integral role in many optical measurement techniques. The defined adjustment and setting of the polarization as well as its precise measurement often is fundamental to further success. The polarization analyzer was developed for the precise coupling of linearly polarized light into polarization-maintaining fibers as well as for the setting of a well-defined state of polarization in free beam applications (Fig. 1). The compact design with communication and power supply via USB facilitates its easy incorporation into already existing setups, whether used as a mobile measuring device or permanently built into an industrial routine.

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.

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A stable measurement setup is fundamental for any successful measurement. A major cause of frustration and error is the need to continuously readjust optomechanical equipment because of continuous instabilities. But first decisions have to be made about which components to use. Detailed measurements of fiber parameters like e.g. an effective numerical aperture allow a better understanding which other fiber optic components are suitable for the application at hand. In‐depth knowledge about the different parameters is key for this procedure. The online product configurators on the new Schäfter+Kirchhoff website provide this information quickly and easily and help narrow down the search to the most relevant choices.