Mar 17 2010
Tektronix, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of oscilloscopes, today announced that the accurate, fast acquisition system of the Tektronix DPO72004B oscilloscope combined with OM4105 and OM4106 Coherent Lightwave Signal Analyzers from Optametra deliver unprecedented ability to visualize and measure coherent polarization multiplexed quadrature phase shift keying (PM-QPSK) signals in realtime.
Tektronix and Optametra will be providing a joint demonstration of the solution during the OFC/NFOEC conference March 23-25 in San Diego, Calif. To view the joint demonstration, please visit the Tektronix booth# 1543 or the Optametra booth# 1406. OFC/NFOEC is the world's leading global conference for optical communications and networking professionals.
Optical transmission rates above 10 Gb/s significantly increase signal distortion caused by fiber impairments. To solve this problem, the industry is turning to PM-QPSK paired with coherent detection. This complex modulation scheme gives carriers the ability to grow data rates significantly over their existing fiber infrastructure.
The challenges of testing PM-QPSK are considerable, involving a complex optical modulator and demodulator, and realtime signal capture on 4 channels simultaneously. When paired with Tektronix' 20GHz oscilloscopes, Optametra's signal analyzers are the first commercial tools to measure and display the full optical field of coherent signals at these bandwidths. Using an open-architecture MATLAB-based computational engine, Optametra's solutions provide in-phase and quadrature eye diagrams, constellations, data waveforms, bit-error ratios (BER) for both polarizations of light in fiber and record/playback. A graphical user interface controls frequently used instrument functions.
To support their customers making 100G optical measurements, Optametra purchased the Tektronix DPO72004B oscilloscope. In turn, many of Optametra customers are selecting the same Tektronix oscilloscope as well because of the need for a fast realtime acquisition system with very high signal integrity across 4 channels. "Thanks to the flat frequency response, fast rise times and low noise floor provided by Tektronix instruments, we can confidently state that our OM4000 series analyzers capture the complete electric field of the optical signal at a full 112 Gb/s," said Daniel van der Weide, vice president of engineering for Optametra. "Through our association with Tektronix, we enable customers to characterize, install and monitor complex modulation transceivers on the bench, on the floor, and in the field."
The four-channel DPO70000B Series oscilloscopes combine industry-leading bandwidth of 20 GHz with the highest waveform capture rate, best signal fidelity, lowest noise floor. They provide support on all channels simultaneously for high bandwidth, deep memory, fast sample rate, and fast waveform capture rate.
"The use of the DPO72004B to accurately visualize and analyze 'bleeding edge' 100G signaling is yet another example of why Tektronix is the world leader in oscilloscopes," said Brian Reich, general manager, Performance Oscilloscopes, Tektronix. "By working with Optametra, customers can take advantage of a complete and open solution to complex measurement challenges in long-haul fiber-optic communications."