Three Ways to Measure Pulsed Light with an Optical Spectrum Analyzer
July 23, 2024
Related To: Yokogawa Test&Measurement
Courtesy of Yokogawa Test&Measurement
Overview of Pulsed Light Measurement
Why use pulsed light?
A semiconductor laser emits light by a driving current. This drive current causes the semiconductor laser chip to generate heat, causing a shift in the output wavelength and potentially damaging the laser. To avoid such problems, pulse-driven light emission is widely used. Furthermore, high-power industrial lasers may require an energy accumulation period before the power is released as a short pulse. The pulse drive conditions of these lasers are designed with repetition frequencies and duty ratios that depend on the application. To accurately measure pulsed light using an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), it is necessary to understand the characteristics of the OSA and select the appropriate measurement method and settings.