User`s guide

Specifications Definition of Terms
42 Agilent 81600B Tunable Laser Source Family, Fourth Edition
Polarization extinction ratio
Specifies the ratio of the optical power in the slow axis of a connected
polarization-maintaining fiber to optical power in the fast axis, expressed
in dB
Measurement: Using a polarization analyzer at the end of a polarization-maintaining
patchcord, by sweeping the wavelength to create circular traces on the
Poincaré sphere. Calculate the polarization extinction ratio from the
diameters of these circles.
Figure 10 Circular traces on the Poincaré sphere used to calculate polarization extinction
ratio.
Power flatness versus wavelength
Specifies ± half the span (in dB) between the maximum and the minimum
actual power levels of the tunable laser source when changing the
wavelength.
Figure 11 Power flatness vs. wavelength.
Applicable to tunable laser sources Utilizing polarization maintaining
fiber (TE mode in the slow axis and aligned with the connector key).
NOTE