100 W average power 10.6 µm isolator based on the interband Faraday effect in InSb

A 10.6 μm isolator based on the interband magnetic optical effect in InSb has been tested to throughput levels of 100 W average power. The interband isolator figure of merit (rotation/loss) has been shown to be nearly a factor of two greater than the optimum free carrier effect isolator. Employment of the isolator at a 10.6 μm laser radar field site has resulted in the improvement of frequency stability and Doppler resolution.