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Measure MWIR laser spectra faster and more accurately than ever before

by Yokogawa Test&Measurement January 30, 2025

Optical spectrum analyzers have long-been the go-to solution when looking to take mid-wave infrared (MWIR) measurements. However, with the introduction of the  Yokogawa AQ6377E optical spectrum analyzer, researchers and engineers can obtain a step change in their project/development program outcomes. How? Through the arrival of numerous new features and functions that enhance speed, accuracy, and capability, helping you succeed in a broader spread of laser application demands.

Our new Yokogawa AQ6377E optical spectrum analyzer enables the quick and accurate analysis of laser wavelength spectra in the MWIR range (particularly the 5 µm bandwidth), including side modes. We developed this innovative new instrument, the successor to our AQ6377 (launched in 2020), in response to market feedback for faster measurement speeds and the desire to perform pulsed light measurements under various conditions. We also knew you wanted a better way to evaluate side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) than is available using Fourier Transform optical spectrum analyzer (FT-OSA) instruments.

AQ6377E Yokogawa Optical Spectrum Analyzer

What can our AQ6377E offer? Well, it delivers enhanced performance of the built-in chopper, which functions automatically in line with the measurement sensitivity setting. This results in reduced impact of background noise when measuring MWIR light spectra, as well as faster and more accurate measurements compared with our previous-generation model.

Universities, laboratory institutes, and research departments can all benefit, as can manufacturers of lasers, optical fibers, and optical components. Our AQ6377E also offers much wider pulsed light measurement capabilities thanks to the addition of the new ‘advanced pulsed light measurement mode’ function, providing you with improved ability to measure pulsed light at low-repetition frequencies (below 1 MHz) that were previously impossible to achieve using the AQ6377.

In laser evaluation applications – such as laser technology research, non-linear optical research, and applied research into the sensing of environmental gases – the simultaneous measurement of a laser’s optical spectrum over a wide level range was a clear performance advantage of our previous AQ6377. However, our new AQ6377E adds to this capability with a dynamic measurement range of 73 dB. It means you can accurately evaluate SMSR, an index of laser performance, which is otherwise challenging to achieve using an FT-OSA device.

Alongside its 73 dB dynamic measurement range, the optical performance of the AQ6377E includes: a wavelength range of 1900 to 5500 nm; five wavelength resolution settings from 0.2 to 5 nm; ±0.5 nm wavelength accuracy; and 50 dB (typical) high close-in dynamic range.

Importantly, the free-space optical input makes it possible to connect both single-mode and large-core multimode (up to 400 µm) to the same instrument, where small insertion loss variation at the input connector increases measurement repeatability. Since there is no physical contact, damage will not occur when connecting fibers.

If you want to take a giant leap forward in the analysis of your laser wavelength spectra and attain new levels of productivity and accuracy, look no further than our new AQ6377E optical spectrum analyzer.

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