How to Measure Optical Return Loss

+ Tunable Laser

Measure Optical Reflections Accurately

Optical return loss testing requires a stable optical source and a measurement path that can monitor the optical power launched toward the device under test and the optical power reflected back from it. For swept-wavelength measurements, the optical source varies across the required wavelength range while the return-loss measurement remains synchronized with the sweep.

The measurement compares the incident optical power with the reflected optical power from the device under test and uses the result to determine optical return loss. The setup can be used to characterize reflections from connectors, fiber interfaces, fiber assemblies, and passive optical components across the measured wavelength range.

Optical Return Loss Measurement Solution

Measuring optical return loss requires stable optical signal generation and synchronized incident and reflected optical power measurements to quantify reflected optical energy. The Keysight optical return loss measurement solution combines a tunable laser and optical return loss meter to provide a swept optical stimulus, monitor the optical power launched toward the device under test, and measure the optical power reflected back from it. Together, these instruments support synchronized swept-wavelength measurements for characterizing optical return loss across connectors, fiber interfaces, assemblies, and passive optical components.

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Explore Products in Our Optical Return Loss Measurement Solution

N7776C Tunable Laser Source, High Power and Lowest SSE, Top Line

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N7753C Optical Return Loss Meter

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