What is a Tunable Laser ? Tunable Lasers
Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B, and 8166A/B User’s Guide, Fourth Edition 115
What is a Tunable Laser ?
A tunable laser is a laser source for which the wavelength can be
varied through a specified range. The Agilent Technologies Tunable
Laser modules also allow you to set the output power, and to choose
between continuous wave or modulated power.
How to Set the Power
The laser output can be either:
• a continuous wave (CW) signal, fixed amplitude signal, see “How to
Set the Output Power of a CW Signal” on page 116,
• a modulated signal, see “How to Modulate a Signal” on page 133, or
• a signal with increased linewidth (coherence control), see “How to
Increase Linewidth” on page 138.
If [Mod Src] is <Off>, a continuous wave signal is the chosen optical
output. A continuous wave signal is the default.
If any other [Mod Src] source is chosen, the chosen source modulates
the signal. For possible modulation sources, see “How to Modulate a
Signal” on page 133.
Attenuator If your tunable laser has an built-in optical attenuator, you can choose
one of the two following power modes:
•
<Automat
ic> A
ttenuat
ion Mode, y
ou specify th
e output po
w
er and
the instrument automatically sets the optical output power by using
the optimum combination of laser diode current and optical
attenuation, or
• <Manual Att.> Mode, you specify the output power and the
attenuation.
The two modes are separate, the values set in one mode do not affect
values set in the other.
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