AQ6374E Wide Wavelength Range Optical Spectrum Analyzer 350 - 1750 nm

Sixteen Data Analysis Functions
 Multiple data analysis functions are available that cover many popular applications:

Seven Individual Traces
Users can directly select the trace using a mouse via simultaneous multi-trace display and employ Max/Min hold and calculation (subtraction) between traces

Purge

Due to its high resolution and sensitivity the AQ6374E OSA can detect the presence of water molecules in the air. If water vapor is detected in the upper Near-IR wavelength region, it can overlap with or mask spectral characteristics of the device under test for that particular region.

By continuously supplying a pure purge gas such as nitrogen to the monochromator through back panel ports, the AQ6374E can reduce the influence of water vapor absorptions for more reliable and accurate measurements.

Smoothing
Reduces the noise on the measured spectrum.

Built-In Cut Filter
The built-in cut filter addresses instances when the monochromator generates high order diffracted light that appears at wavelengths equal to the integral multiple of input wavelengths.

Built-In Calibration Source
Ambient temperature change, vibrations, and shock can have an impact on an OSA's measurement accuracy. To ensure consistently precise measurements, the AQ6374E OSA is equipped with a built-in calibration source. The calibration process is fully automatic and takes only two minutes to complete and includes optical alignment, which automatically aligns the optical path in the monochromator to assure level accuracy, and wavelength calibration, which automatically calibrates the OSA with the reference source to ensure wavelength accuracy.

Advanced Marker
Adds markers to obtain power spectral density and integrated power of a designated spectrum for easier acquisition of a signal's OSNR value, modulated or not, directly from its spectrum.

Built-In Macro Programming
Create automated test systems to perform automatic measurements and control external equipment through a remote interface. GP-IB, and Ethernet ports are available for remotel control via PC and to transfer standard SCPI-compatible or proprietary AQ6317-compatible commands. LabVIEW® drivers are also available.

AQ6370 Viewer
AQ6370 Viewer software replicates the OSA's screen on a PC and allows for real-time remote control and operation of the OSA and lets users to display, analyze, and transfer acquired data onto a remote PC. This enables professionals like Production Managers to operate the instrument and collect measurement results from their office without physically going to the production line and Service Engineers to help customers or colleagues by remotely setting the instrument and tuning it on the device/system they want to test.

Active Component Test

Characterization of Laser Sources
Various light sources that emit in the visible light to mid-infrared wavelength region (like DFB-LD, FP-LD, and VCSEL) mount into a variety of devices and systems for a number of applications. Examples include telecommunications (glass fiber or plastic fiber), industrial (barcode scanners, LiDAR surface scanners), and consumer electronics (audio output of Hi-Fi audio systems, laser printers, computer mice).

Characterization of Sources in Laser Absorption Spectroscopy
The measurement technique laser absorption spectroscopy detects and measures the concentration of gases in the air in both open and closed environments. The lasers used require excellent single-mode operation performance, which directly determines the limits of detection. DFB-LD and VCSEL lasers require certain parameters to evaluate their performance. Side-mode suppression ratio (amplitude difference between main mode and side mode) and the spontaneous emission level (magnitude of background noise light) can be quickly and accurately measured by the AQ6374E.

Characterization of Supercontinuum Light Sources
Supercontinuum light is generated by promoting highly nonlinear optical processes in special materials (e.g., photonic crystal fiber) by pumping them with a mode-locked pulsed laser (typically a femtosecond Ti: Sapphire laser). Supercontinuum light, described as "broad as a lamp, bright as a laser," matches characteristics of incandescent and fluorescent lamps (a very broad spectrum) with characteristics of lasers (high spatial coherence and very high brightness). This enables optimum coupling to a fiber and outstanding single-mode beam quality. Supercontinuum light sources are applicable across a diverse range of fields including optical coherence tomography, frequency metrology, fluorescence lifetime imaging, optical communications, gas sensing, and many others. The AQ6370 Series of optical spectrum analyzers is ideal for testing and characterizing supercontinuum light sources during pre- and post-production quality checks.

Measurement Example of Supercontinuum Light Sources (AQ6374E + AQ6375E)

Passive Component Test

Visible LED
Supporting the large core fiber input, the AQ6373E OSA and AQ6374E OSA efficiently attain visible LED light from lighting, signage, sensing, and other applications and measures its spectrum.The built-in Color Analysis function automatically evaluates the dominant wavelength and the chromatic coordinates of the source.

Example of Color Analysis with the AQ6374E

With a broadband light source like ASE, SLD, or SC, the OSA performs an evaluation of passive devices such as WDM filters and FBG. The superb optical characteristics of the AQ6370 OSA Series enables higher resolution and wider dynamic range measurements. The built-in optical filter analysis function simultaneously reports peak/bottom wavelength, level, crosstalk, and ripple width.

Loss Wavelength Characterization of Optical Fibers
Loss values of optical fibers are different depending on wavelengths of propagating optical signals. These differences are caused by the absorption by optical fibers and the effect of Rayleigh scattering. Loss values vary by the materials and types of fibers. With a quartz single-mode fiber, a loss around 1.55 μm is about 0.2 dB/km (the smallest), and around 1.4 μm a large loss occurs due to water ions (OH). The loss wavelength characterization of this type of optical fiber requires measuring a wide range of wavelengths. With a white light source, the AQ6374E efficiently characterizes the loss wavelength measuring a wide range of wavelengths.

Measurement Example of Wavelength Loss Characterization with AQ6374E

Characterization of Fiber Bragg Gratings
Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is a type of distributed Bragg reflector constructed in a short segment of optical fiber that reflects particular wavelengths of light and transmits all the others. This is achieved by creating a periodic variation in the refractive index of the fiber core, which generates a wavelength-specific dielectric mirror. FBG can be used as an inline optical filter to block certain wavelengths or as a wavelength-specific reflector. The primary application of FBG is in optical communications systems, as they are specifically used as notch filters and in optical multiplexers and demultiplexers with an optical circulator or optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM). FBG tuned on the 2-3 μm region can be used as direct sensing elements for strain and temperature in instrumentation applications (like seismology) and in pressure sensors for extremely harsh environments. To characterize FBGs, the high wavelength resolution and high dynamic range of the AQ6370 Series are indispensable.

Gas Detection and Concentration Measurements
Used together with a broadband light source like supercontinuum (SC) or super luminescent diode (SLD), the AQ6370 Series shows the absorption spectrum of the gas mixture under test.

Hydrogen Cyanide H₁₃C₁₄N absorption spectrum measurement with AQ6375E