Santec Corp. has introduced the SPA-100 Swept Photonics Analyzer. The SPA-100, paired with the company’s tunable laser source, leverages optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) to analyze fiber-optic and photonic devices for insertion loss and return loss with a spatial resolution of better than 5 µm.
The wide sweep range of the tunable laser and the high resolution of the SPA-100 – the highest available, Santec asserts – enables technicians to perform accurate analysis of small devices like silicon photonic circuits, fiber-optic components, and compact fiber-optic assemblies. The built-in software displays a trace that shows reflectance and loss events along the waveguide to support fault location as well as measurement of parameters such as waveguide length and refractive index.
Meanwhile, the SPA-100 system uses coherent detection technology to perform transmissive wavelength-dependent loss measurement as well with a dynamic range of better than 70 dB in a single scan, thus saving measurement time by obviating the need to change optical power meter ranges.
Finally, a patented proximity sensing function enables the fiber probe to sense the distance between the probe and the silicon wafer to facilitate the alignment process during the wafer-level characterization process in a silicon photonic chip production line.
Santec will display the SPA-100 will be displayed at OFC 2023 from March 7-9.
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