8160xA Family of Tunable Laser Sources

8160xA Family of Tunable Laser Sources

Introduction

The Keysight Technologies 8160xA Family of Tunable Laser Sources offers the full wavelength range from 1240 nm to 1650 nm. All 8160xA TLS are modules for the Keysight 8164B Lightwave Measurement System mainframe, providing a wide choice of configurations. Investing in the Keysight 8160xA TLS family can realize the cost efficiency and performance required for volume testing of components for coarse and dense wave-length division multiplexing (DWDM, CWDM), and passive optical networks (PON).

Fast Two-Way Sweeps and High Power with Low SSE

The Keysight 81606A top-line TLS has been designed to reach a new accuracy level and to increase test efficiency with faster wavelength-dependency measurements and lower cost of ownership. Automated adjustment of wavelength-selective devices is accelerated with the new two-way sweep mode at up to 200 nm/s with sub-picometer repeatability and best-in-class accuracy. The output power above +12 dBm at the product family’s lowest spontaneous emission level enables the validation of extremely deep filters and parallel measurements of multiple devices.

Through a major redesign, the 81606A reaches:

• 15 dB more dynamic range through high signal power at lowest spontaneous emission, enabled by the new cavity and laser module design.
• A 4-fold improvement in absolute accuracy with increased real-time tracking speed and resolution, enabled by the novel wavelength reference unit.
• Faster sweeps at up to 200 nm/s in both directions without impacting the specified dynamic accuracy, enabled by enhanced feedback controls and drive mechanics.

The new value and basic line models share the 81606A’s new design with low spontaneous emission and narrow line width, its industry-leading power repeatability and long-term stability. The new modules offer additional price-performance options based on output power, tuning speed, wavelength accuracy and repeatability. Whether you need to verify the design of demanding optical components or adjust more wavelength-selective switches per hour, or you simply need a stable, tunable optical source, the 8160xA family of tunable lasers offers a suitable model.

Keysight 8160xA Family of Tunable Laser Sources

The Keysight 8160xA TLS modules fit into the bottom back-loadable slot of the Keysight 8164B Lightwave Measurement System mainframe. The 81606A, 81607A and 81608A have continuous-sweep functionality, scanning the wavelength at a fixed rate while triggering wavelength logging and external devices at a chosen interval. All the models, including the 81609A, support stepped sweeps, during which the wavelength successively advances by a chosen interval and dwells at each step for a desired duration before the next step.

The Keysight 81606A top-line tunable laser source

The 81606A, features up to 200 nm tuning range at an outstanding dynamic wavelength accuracy and repeatability. The combination of highest swept-wavelength accuracy and high-power low-SSE signal make this the best fit for measuring DWDM and other high-performance devices, especially when splitting the power to multiple devices for efficient parallel measurements.

The Keysight 81607A, 81608A value-line tunable laser sources

The 81607A value line TLS complements the top line 81606A model at a moderately reduced output power. With a typical wavelength repeatability of ±1 pm even during two-way sweeps with up to 200 nm/s, it is ideal for economical DWDM device test and adjustment when the higher power is not needed. The 81608A, another member of the value line TLS, offers a peak output power of more than +12 dBm, at least 75 dB/nm above its SSE level. The 81608A features a typical wavelength repeatability of ±1.5 pm at two-way sweeps up to 200 nm/s. The laser’s balance of features, performance and price makes it suitable for both, coherent transmission experiments and cost-effective manufacturing-floor component testing, especially for CWDM and other wider-band devices.

The Keysight 81609A basic-line step-tunable laser source

The 81609A basic line module can step within 300 milliseconds, for short steps, with a resolution of 0.1 pm and a typical wavelength repeatability of ±3 pm, making it ideal for cost-effective testing of broadband optical devices. Like the other modules in the family, it delivers more than +12 dBm peak output power with low spontaneous emission levels. At ±0.01 dB power stability over an hour, it can also serve as a widely tunable, static local oscillator for receiver testing or as input to optical modulators, including the Keysight N437x Lightwave Component Analyzers, supported by the standard PMF output.

Improved O-band models for silicon photonics and data center applications

The 8160xA option 113 covers the wavelength range from 1240 nm to 1380 nm for an important set of applications. Equipped with PMF output fiber, these are a good match for testing and developing components with silicon photonics technology. Verifying the spectral responsivity and the sensitivity of receiver optical subassemblies (ROSA) benefit from more than +10 dBm output power - enough to allow for external modulation in BER testing. Combined with very low SSE levels, Option 113 is ideal for testing wavelength filters for O-band CWDM components, such as for 100G and 400G Ethernet standards. The 81602A option 013 employs a different cavity design to reach an optical power level of over +18 dBm. The high output power helps compensate for the coupling loss of optical surface probes or the insertion loss of external modulators during the verification of integrated photonic designs. This allows testing photonic devices at relevant signal levels and wavelengths. With a tuning range of 1250 nm to 1370 nm, the laser addresses the latest Silicon Photonics research. For specifications, please refer to the 81602A technical data sheet, publication number 5992-1472EN.

New E-band model for CWDM8 component testing

The new 8160xA option 114 covers the wavelength range from 1340 nm to 1495 nm. Combined with the other options, this allows measurements over all CWDM channels, such as for CWDM8 devices. Components for Raman amplification also use this wavelength range.