Stepped Sweep Mode - THORLABS TLX3 User Manual

O-Band Tunable Laser Source Chapter 6: TLX3 Full Operating Instructions
6.2.

Stepped Sweep Mode

This mode allows you to program the laser to automatically step across a wavelength range at a user-defined step
size. Click on the Stepped Sweep Mode button to enter this mode. The GUI should appear similar to the image
below. Note that the "Start Sweep" button has appeared on the right.
The wavelength range can be set by typing the start and stop wavelengths in the boxes at the lower left of the GUI.
Alternately, the start and stop wavelengths can be set by simply dragging the wavelength indicator labels on the
wavelength scale. The step size and dwell time at each step can be specified in the boxes at the bottom of the GUI.
You can also select the number of cycles to sweep in the box at the bottom right of the GUI. If you want to sweep
continuously, then clicking on the "Repeat" menu will allow you to select "Counted" or "Infinite" sweeps.
Once the parameters are set, the sweeps are initiated by clicking the "Start Sweep" button. The button will then
change to "Stop Sweep". Clicking on "Stop Sweep" will terminate the sweep function and reset the controls to the
start wavelength. (Note, the laser will still finish its last sweep before resetting).
Note that if the wavelength range is not set to be an integer of steps, then the laser will end its sweep at the last
integral number of steps and return to the Start wavelength.
Note also that each step is comprised of a transition time followed by a dwell time. The transition time allows for the
laser wavelength to stabilize after tuning. It is the same for all dwell times. Please see the Trigger section of this
guide for more details about how to use the Trigger Output function in the Stepped Sweep Mode.
Note that the Power readout will be blanked during this sweep mode because it's changing too rapidly to be read
accurately.
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