How To Perform A Lambda Scan Application; The Prepare Lambda Scan Function - Agilent Technologies 8163A Programming Manual

The Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver
176

How to Perform a Lambda Scan Application

8164A
Figure 18 Lambda Scan Operation Setup

The Prepare Lambda Scan Function

The Prepare Lambda Scan (hp816x_prepareLambdaScan) function
prepares a Lambda Scan operation.
The Prepare Lambda Scan (hp816x_prepareLambdaScan) function must
be called before a Lambda Scan operation is executed. Use the return
values of this function (Number of Datapoints and Number of Power
Arrays) to allocate arrays for the Execute Lambda Scan
(hp816x_executeLambdaScan) function.
To obtain a higher precision, the Tunable Laser Source is set 1 nm before
the Start Wavelength, this means, you have to choose a Start Wavelength
1 nm greater than the minimum possible wavelength. Also, the
wavelength sweep is actually started 90 pm before the Start Wavelength
and ends 90 pm after the Stop Wavelength, this means, you have to
choose a Stop Wavelength 90 pm less than the maximum possible
wavelength.
Triggers coordinate the Tunable Laser module with all Power Meters.
The function sets for the lowest possible averaging time available for the
installed Power Meters and, then, sets the highest possible sweep speed
for the selected Tunable Laser module sweep.
If one of the following circumstances occurs, the "parameter mismatch"
error will be returned:
1 If one Power Meter is out of the specification at 1550 nm, the error
"powermeter wavelength does not span 1550nm" will be returned. For
example, the HP 81530A Power Sensor and the HP 81520A Optical
Agilent 8163A Lightwave Multimeter, Agilent 8164A Lightwave Measurement System,
& Agilent 8166A Lightwave Multichannel System, Third Edition
Lambda Scan Applications
Power Power Power
Sensor Sensor Sensor
Tunable Laser