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Coherent Modulation Transmitter | IQTX
Quantifi Photonics Ltd.
Version
1.04
32
Setting the laser source parameters
In the CONTROL tab, you can set the following laser source parameters for a laser channel:
1.
FREQUENCY (WAVELENGTH)
The frequency (wavelength) of light for the IQTX to output. This corresponds to the spectral
location of the central peak of the laser.
2.
FINE TUNE OFFSET
See section 9.6 Tuning the laser source.
3.
POWER:
IQTX output power.
For details on how to set a value, refer 8.4 SET values and ACTUAL values.
Tuning the laser source
The IQTX instrument allows the user to tune the laser to any spectral set point in the operational range
of the laser. The user can operate in either FREQUENCY (Hz) or WAVELENGTH (nm) units.
Tuning can be realised through the following commands. See the Programming Guide (section 0) for
specific information about the listed commands.
Commands
Description
SOURce<n>:CHANnel<m>
:FREQuency/?
-
Set / query the laser output frequency value, with 1 MHz
resolution.
-
Set / query the fine tune laser output frequency up to +/- 6
GHz around the closest GRID point, with 1 MHz resolution.
-
Set / query the laser output wavelength value, with 0.01 pm
resolution.
SOURce<n>:CHANnel<m>
:FREQuency:FINE/?
SOURce<n>:CHANnel<m>
:WAVelength/?
All lasers with firmware versions equal to or higher than 1.30 will support full spectral tunability down to
the minimum resolution of 1 MHz/ 0.01 pm. Older versions only support full tuning down to the 1 MHz /
0.01 pm resolution with the separate FREQUENCY and FREQUENCY:FINE commands.
9.6.1
Grid setting and min & max frequency values
The default state of the laser is to operate in Frequency (Hz) mode. The entire frequency operation
range of the laser can be divided up into a GRID. Each GRID point is spaced apart by an equal amount,
called the GRID spacing.
The user can set this GRID spacing using the
SOURce<n>:CHANnel<m>:GRID/?
command, between the
values of 100 MHz and 50 GHz.
Each laser source will have a MIN and MAX frequency value, which defines its operation range. For
example, the lasers used in the IQTX 1100 Series have MIN and MAX frequency values of 191.1 THz
(1527.605 nm) and 196.25 THz (1568.773 nm), respectively. If the user were then to set a GRID spacing of 1
GHz, then the frequency grid would be as shown in the below image.