Agilent Technologies Optical Modulation Analyzer Enables Greater than 200G Transmission at 28G Symbol Rate

New Tools Speed Development of Next-Generation High-Speed Networks with CD and PMD Analysis

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced the industry’s first system impairments analysis for chromatic dispersion (CD) and first-order polarization mode dispersion (PMD) with the N4391A optical modulation analyzer. The new tools allow system engineers, for the first time, the ability to characterize distortions of constellation diagrams caused by the CD or PMD of an optical link. Agilent will demonstrate the new tools, together with a 224 Gb/s transmitter (courtesy of the University of Karlsruhe, Germany), at OFC/NFOEC 2010, March 23-25, 2010, San Diego, Calif., Booth 1515.

The N4391A optical modulation analyzer offers comprehensive tools to analyze and quantify the signal integrity of a vector modulated signal (e.g., error vector magnitude and quadrature error). The N4391A is the first optical modulation analyzer offering measurement and compensation of the link’s CD and first order PMD by analyzing the received signals, offering engineers deep-insight into the root cause of constellation distortions The CD and PMD compensation helps system researchers and engineers to quantify their signal quality along the link and down to the receiver input. This is accomplished by correcting for CD and PMD distortions in the constellation diagram and displaying CD and first order PMD values in the status line of the N4391A.

In order to offer the highest flexibility to the user, the raw digitized data coming from the N4391A’s optical coherent receiver can be processed using Microsoft’s .NET(r) framework and included as a user-provided library. For greater flexibility of data analysis, customers can include their algorithms in the burst-mode processing system of the N4391A. The N4391A can handle any number of user algorithms in a user-selectable sequence.

“Our optical modulation analyzer provides the highest flexibility of analysis tools for advanced research of next-generation optical transmission systems,” said Juergen Beck, general manager of Agilent’s Digital Photonic Test business. “The addition of CD and PMD analysis offers system test engineers a powerful tool for transmission system characterization with the option to include user-developed processing algorithms.”

At OFC 2010, Agilent will show a live demonstration of the N4931A’s new features on a 224 Gb/s transmission system operating with dual polarization and 16 QAM at a symbol rate of 28 GBaud.

Benefits of the new N4391A test tools include:

* CD, PMD compensation;
* CD and first-order PMD measurement;
* inclusion of user-developed algorithm in real-time processing;
* any number of algorithms; and
* user-definable sequence of algorithms.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

CD, PMD will be offered with an extra license for $2,900. All other tools will be included in the N4391A optical modulation analyzer’s standard software package at no extra cost. Products will be available in July 2010.

Additional information about Agilent’s N4391A optical modulation analyzer is available at www.agilent.com/find/oma. High-resolution images are available at www.agilent.com/find/oma_images.

A video about the N4391A is available at www.agilent.com/find/oma_video.

A backgrounder on optical component test technology and Agilent’s solutions is available at www.agilent.com/find/oct_backgrounder.

Agilent has created a photonic test webcast series titled “How to Be Ready for 40/100G Optical Networks and Components.” Further details and registration information is available at Photonic Webcast Series.
About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 16,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2009. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.