Two OSAs from Yokogawa cover short and mid wavelength IR
Yokogawa has launched the AQ6375E and AQ6376E optical spectrum analysers (OSAs) for measuring a range of wavelengths in optical product development and manufacturing.
They combine short and mid wavelength infrared with optical precision to aid the development of measurement lasers.
The AQ6375E and AQ6376E are claimed to be the only grating based OSAs covering short wavelength infrared (SWIR) over two micron and mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) over three micron with optical performance.
There are four versions available. The AQ6375E Standard has a wavelength range of 1200 to 2400nm, the AQ6375E Extended Wavelength version has a wavelength range of 1000 to 2500nm, the AQ6375E Limited version has a wavelength range of 1200 to 2400nm (with reduced wavelength resolution) and the AQ6376E Standard has a wavelength range of 1500 to 3400nm.
The choice of wavelengths available gives developers increased flexibility. For example, the AQ637xE can be used in the measurement of gas absorption spectra and the characterisation of light sources used in laser absorption spectroscopy for environmental measurement and gas sensing.
The OSAs can also be used in medical care and biotechnology and industrial laser applications. Typical applications will include the development and measurement of lasers; the characterisation of broadband light sources such as supercontinuum light sources; optical passive devices and optical fibres.
“The AQ637xE will extend the number of optical products that can be analysed, both in development applications and in production, bringing feature rich, high accuracy measurement to all stages of the process,” said Terry Marrinan, Yokogawa Test & Measurement’s vice president and chief marketing officer.
The AQ637xE incorporates numerous features that contribute to achieving maximum accuracy. The free space optical input offers single-mode fibre for the SWIR and MWIR regions and MMF (up to 400 micron) on the same OSA. The small variation in insertion loss at the input connector increases measurement repeatability, while the lack of physical contact with the connecting fibres ensures they avoid damage, said Yokogawa.
A built-in calibration light source maintains high optical performance by compensating for deviations in the optical axis caused by vibrations, impacts and wavelength deviation caused by changes in ambient temperature.
The AQ637xE OSAs also use an air purging feature to compensate for another cause of possible error. In the SWIR and MWIR region, there are wavelengths where light shows strong absorptions due to the presence of water vapour and carbon dioxide, which can both disturb the spectral measurement.
By continuously supplying pure purge gas such as nitrogen to the monochromator through dedicated connectors on the back panel, the AQ637xE can reduce the influence of light absorptions on the measurement.
High order diffracted light is also compensated for through a built-in cut filter in all versions except the AQ6375E-01 limited model. This is required because the monochromator generates high order diffracted light, which has wavelengths equal to the integral multiples of the input wavelength. The built-in filters reduce this higher-order diffracted light, minimizing its influence on the accuracy of the measurement.
To analyse results, the AQ637xE has built-in analysis functions to characterize optical spectrum from a variety of optical systems and devices, such as WDM system, DFB-LD, EDFA (gain and NF) and filters.
Analysis functions also include FP-LD, LED, spectral width (peak/notch); SMSR, optical power; WDM (OSNR), filter (peak/bottom) and WDM filter (peak/bottom).
There is also an application mode, transforming a versatile OSA into a machine dedicated to a device under test (DUT). APP mode provides a DUT-specific user interface that allows the user to move from configuration settings to test results without the need to know the OSA settings. The AQ637xE is pre-installed with basic applications such as WDM test, DFB-LD test, and FP-LD test. A guide through wizard leads the user through an easy set up process for specific measurements and analysis.
New or additional testing applications will be made available for download from the website and can be added to the AQ637xE by future firmware updates, confirmed Yokogawa.
There is also a 10.4-inch multi-touch capacitive LCD touchscreen for tablet-like operation to change measurement conditions, perform analysis and change the optical spectrum view.
The AQ637xE also features USB ports that are compatible with a USB storage device, mouse and keyboard. Data and screenshots can be saved to internal memory or USB storage to create test reports, while connecting a mouse or keyboard to the USB port allows the AQ637xE to be operated in the same way as a PC.
The standard LAN port allows convenient access to files stored in the internal memory as well as allowing remote firmware updates from a PC. The APP function also supports a fibre inspection probe, allowing users to visualise the quality of the fibre connector surface.