Industry News

EXFO's high-power continuously tunable lasers continue to be updated

Author : JIUZHOU

Update time : 2022-11-18 10:24:55

T500S
●High Power Continuously Tunable Lasers
●Passive Optical Components Test
●Photonic integrated circuit testing
●Versatile Tunable Lasers for R&D

Continuously tunable lasers are essential equipment in R&D laboratories and production workshops. It is suitable for a variety of applications requiring fast, continuous wavelength tuning. The T500S offers excellent wavelength coverage, high-speed scanning, and high output power. This laser exhibits excellent line width characteristics when operating at a fixed wavelength.

The T500S is part of EXFO's family of continuously tunable lasers, which also includes the T200S (click to view T200S details), covering essential telecom wavelengths with output powers up to 10 dBm and speeds up to 200 nm/s.

◉ T500S, T200S wavelength coverage

The T500S supports a half-rack configuration and requires only a small footprint, making it ideal for laboratory applications. The screen can be adjusted for dark optical lab environments, displaying relevant information that can be seen from the other side of the optical bench. A rack mount accessory is also available to mount one or two lasers in a 19" rack table. The control buttons are located at each corner of the screen, you can operate the laser without looking at the screen.

Advanced Spectral Identification

Testing High Speed Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs)

Integrated photonic devices can include complex optical devices with high spectral contrast. For example, a ring resonator may have a very sharp resonance curve, making it difficult to characterize insertion loss. In addition, the return loss or polarization-dependent loss of some devices needs to be measured with the same accuracy. Finally, the output of multiple devices or a single device needs to be tested simultaneously to speed up the qualification of PICs.

To test these types of devices, the T500S laser can be used in conjunction with EXFO's Device Test Platform CTP10. Capable of spectral measurements with high resolution and high accuracy, the CTP10 is an integrated solution that takes full advantage of the performance of the T500S for bidirectional scanning at 200 nm/s. The T500S is also compatible with the CT440, a compact EXFO device tester with speeds up to 100 nm/s.

Optical device test
The T500S incorporates several tunable laser innovations, such as ultra-low Signal Spontaneous Emission Ratio (SSSER), high-power cavity, and mode-hop-free operation. These three parameters are very important when performing high-quality optical device testing, whether at a specific fixed wavelength or by sweeping frequency.

Optical devices often have a strong dependence on the wavelength or polarization of light, making them very sensitive to polarization-dependent loss (PDL). When working with the CTP10, the T500S measures PDL very accurately and quickly due to its bidirectional scanning capability.

In the lab or on the production floor, the test meter can be easily operated using the large touchscreen with an ergonomic Graphical User Interface (GUI); it can also be operated fully automatically using SCPI commands via the Ethernet port on the back of the unit.

R & D
In R&D environments, continuously tunable lasers are typically used for sweeping applications in any scan direction, but may also need to be tuned to a specific stable wavelength with a narrow line width.

The T500S has a dedicated tuning mode to optimize line width and provide adjustable optical output power when high optical power is required.

Best-in-class testing capabilities

The peak output power can reach 14dBm, and the spectral purity is high

◉ High power and high dynamic range

The laser exhibits a very sharp spectrum with a peak output power of 14 dBm. The optical cavity eliminates broadband spontaneous emission (SSE) without compromising optical power. Active mode-hopping control maintains high spectral purity throughout the laser scan, ensuring reliable and repeatable wavelength scanning.

Fast tuning
Bidirectional scan speed can be configured to 200 nm/s. When speed is critical, the T500S ensures repeatable and fast measurements. It is also possible to set the scanning speed of the laser to a lower level (e.g. when using conventional inspection systems).

Step or continuous sweep
There are two user modes, optimized for specific uses: tuning (TUNE) or scanning (SWEEP). In tuned mode, laser control ensures excellent line width at any wavelength or enables rapid wavelength tuning. In scanning mode, the laser performs high-speed, mode-hop-free scanning across its entire wavelength range.

High degree of automation, accurate spectrum measurement
T500S is the main component of the spectral identification system, which uses EXFO device test equipment (CTP10 or CT440), so the spectral measurement wavelength accuracy can reach ±5 pm, and the wavelength repeatability can reach the order of 1pm. These device testers enable the automation of new laser sources with limited disruption to existing automation procedures.

As a standalone laser, it can be controlled via Ethernet and operated remotely from any location. Functions such as triggers can be easily accessed from the touchscreen.

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