Lightwave Vector Network Analyser

Description

This purchase is for an opto-electronic (lightwave) network analyser and is part of a project that aims at establishing an open experimental facility for the UK research community that will enable its users to characterise the bandwidth of their photonic components and circuits up to very high frequencies. The new facility will enable the high speed characterisation of components and circuits that convert electrical signals into optical signals, optical signals into electrical signals as well components that have electrical inputs and outputs or optical inputs and outputs. This allows testing of for example optical modulators, photodetectors, transmitter modules, receiver modules, etc. The frequency range that the equipment will be capable of is such that a deeper understanding of components and circuits will be gained, allowing development of components that can serve future application requirements in optical data communications and beyond. The equipment will benefit from being situated at the University of Southampton, which has established strong experimental capabilities in areas, such as photonics, communications and the life sciences. Research at the extended cleanroom complex of Southampton's Zepler Institute, a unique facility in UK academia, will benefit from the availability of this equipment, which will enable fabrication and advanced applications research to be intimately connected.