Arden Photonics nPA-400 fiber refractive index profiler promises rapid measurements

Feb. 24, 2022

The company expects the nPA-400 to find use on production lines, in research and development labs, and in quality assurance applications.

Stephen Hardy

The nPA-400 from Arden Photonics can produce complete 2D refractive index profiles of optical fibers in just seconds, according to the company

Arden Photonics says its new nPA-400 fiber refractive index profiler enables complete 2D refractive index profiles of optical fibers “in just a few seconds.” The company expects the nPA-400 to find use on production lines, in research and development labs, and in quality assurance applications.

The nPA-400’s modified refracted nearfield technique enables analysis of a fiber’s end-view grey scale intensity profile to determine its full 2D refractive index distribution. The instrument obviates the need to rotate the fiber or scan the fiber end-face, which Arden Photonics says significantly shortens measurement time.

Technicians can use the nPA-400 to verify standard and specialty fiber designs. Easy fiber preparation helps enable users with little training or experience to accurately characterize fiber, the company states. The instrument is compatible with standard and specialty fibers, including polarization maintaining (PM), octagonal, and multi-core, in diameters from 40 µm to 400 µm.

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.