APEX's Optical Complex Spectrum Analyzer

APEX’s optical complex Spectrum analyzer - galeria 2

APEX’s optical Spectrum analyzer - galeria 3

APEX’s optical complex Spectrum analyzer - galeria 4

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APEX’s optical complex Spectrum analyzer

Since 2001, APEX Technologies has focused on developing and manufacturing innovative, very high-performance test devices intended for fiber optic telecommunications testing. Since the introduction of the world’s first commercially available ultra-high-resolution optical spectrum analyzer, APEX Technologies has also been dedicated to the continuous development of the optical measurement field. Our experience makes us aware that innovation never ends, which is why we follow the policy „knowledge is power”.

Innovative, very high-performance test devices
The world’s first ultra-high-resolution optical spectrum analyzer
Measurement of optical phase as a function of frequency
Up to 500x better spectral resolution
Up to 50x better throughput of the optical modulation analyzer

Principle of Operation

APEX Technologies Optical Complex Spectrum Analyzers are high-resolution optical spectrum analyzers with the added benefit of measuring optical phase as a function of frequency. Thanks to spectral power and spectral phase information, it is possible, using the inverse Fourier transform, to calculate and display time-domain parameters, such as an optical modulation analyzer.

Use it as an ultra-high-performance optical spectrum analyzer

Thanks to up to 500 times better spectral resolution than the best commercially available optical spectrum analyzer based on a standard grating, the integrated optical spectrum analyzer can display the actual shape of the signal spectrum, and not just its envelope.

Key features of the optical spectrum analyzer:

Resolution from 250 GHz to 20 MHz
Wavelength accuracy +/- 3 pm
Close-in dynamic range > 60 dB at +/- 15:00
Rectangular-shape resolution filters
2 channels, one per polarization axis
Built-in tunable laser source
Component transfer analysis

Use it as an ultra-high-performance optical modulation analyzer

With up to 50 times better throughput than the best time-domain optical modulation analyzer on the market, the integrated optical modulation analyzer can measure any current and future symbol-rate signal with far more detail than all competitors.

Key features of the optical modulation analyzer:

No symbol-rate limitation (3 THz optical bandwidth)
Ability to measure any modulation format without special software
Ultra-high temporal resolution (up to 325 fps)
Polarization diversity
Phase, Chirp, Alpha parameter, intensity vs time; Constellation ; Phase eye diagram; intensity eye plot…

PRBS Pattern Analysis

APEX Technologies Optical Complex Spectrum Analyzers need a repetitive pattern to perform a complex measurement and cannot do so with a real signal. All lengths of repetitive patterns are not accepted by the optical complex spectrum analyzers, and the accepted lengths depend on the symbol rate of the tested signal.

The transmission rate of the tested signal divided by the pattern length must fall within the pattern frequency range (from 70 MHz to 1 GHz).

The equipment has no upper limit on transmission rate and can measure any modulation format.

Complex measurement configuration

As mentioned, a complex measurement requires not only intensity but also phase as a function of frequency. To measure phase, the tested signal must be a repetitive signal with a pattern frequency from 70 MHz to 900 MHz. Commercially available PPGs and AWGs are able to generate an appropriate pattern length to match this pattern frequency range for any signal rate. A reference RF pattern clock repetition signal is also required. The user can manually connect an external clock to the device. To simplify configuration, a new optical clock recovery function is available, which allows complex measurements to be performed without a reference clock signal.