Santec debuts an O-band version of its swept photonics analyzer

Sept. 14, 2023
The company targets photonic integrated circuits (PICs), fiber optic elements, and short cable assembly opportunities.

Santec has launched an O-band of its swept photonics SPA-100, broadening its reach to serve other band configurations. 

Previously exclusive to the CL band, the Santec SPA-100, is now accessible in an O-band configuration (1260nm to 1350nm). Leveraging the sweeping range of Santec’s tunable laser, the system has what it claims to be a high-resolution reflectometer(<6µm).

Like its CL band counterpart, the O-band version is well suited for analyzing compact components such as photonic integrated circuits (PICs), fiber optic elements, and short cable assemblies due to its sub-6µm resolution.

The provided software presents a trace illustrating reflectance and loss events, offering the ability to pinpoint faults and assess parameters like waveguide length and refractive index.

Beyond yielding a reflectance trace, the SPA-100 system uses coherent detection technology to perform transmissive wavelength-dependent loss measurement with a wide dynamic range of better than 70dB in a single scan, saving measurement time without changing optical power meter ranges.

A patented proximity sensing function allows the fiber probe to sense the distance between the probe and the silicon wafer to facilitate alignment during the wafer-level characterization process in a silicon photonic chip production line.

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About the Author

Sean Buckley

Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.

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