Operation Note; Maintaining Wavelength Accuracy Below Maximum Power - Agilent Technologies Agilent 81663A User Manual

Operation Note

Maintaining Wavelength Accuracy Below Maximum Power

Agilent DFB Laser Source Module User's Guide
The wavelength accuracy of your DFB Laser Source module is
optimized when you set power to the maximum available for
your module. As you reduce power, the drive current through
the laser diode changes; this can mean that the actual output
wavelength may differ from the wavelength displayed on the
user interface of your mainframe.
To ensure wavelength accuracy at less than maximum power
you should perform the steps listed below. You will need to use
a wavelength meter, we recommend the Agilent 86120C
Multi-Wavelength Meter.
Set up your equipment as displayed in Figure 5.
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8163A/B
DFB
Source
Figure 5 Wavelength Accuracy Setup
On the user interface of your Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave
2
Multimeter, move to the DFB source module channel and
perform the following steps:
Move to [P], and press Enter.
a
Set the power value to the maximum power for the
b
module. The maximum power for the 81663A is 13 dBm.
Since the maximum displayed power of the 86120C is
10 dBm, we recommend you use a power splitter or
attenuator between the source and the wavelength meter.
Move to [λ], and press Enter.
c
Set the wavelength to the value you require.
d
Enable the laser by pressing the button on the front panel
e
of the module.
Allow your wavelength meter to settle to a stable wavelength
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value. Check the displayed value against the value displayed
on the user interface of your 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter.
Wavelength Meter
1
13