Optical Network Analyzer Snoops DWDM

The Q7760 optical network analyzer developed by Advantest is said to be the industry's only optical network analyzer that allows designers of next-generation DWDM components to measure and characterize polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and chromatic dispersion simultaneously. Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and chromatic dispersion become important considerations as data rates climb to 10 Gb/s and soon, 40 Gb/s.
Using this analyzer, developers of DWDM products including arrayed waveguide gratings, Fiber Bragg gratings, dispersion compensators, and multiplexers can fine-tune optical component designs to minimize dispersion, which reduces signal degradation over distance. At the network level, these fine-tuned components permit greater distance between repeaters, reducing infrastructure complexity.