INSTRUMENTATION NEWS WINTER 2012

CONTENTS
WaveShaper 100S Tunable Optical Filter WaveManager 2.5 Application Software Package Fourier Processor: An Optical FPGA WaveSketch: Drag-and-Drop control of filter shapes Hints and Tips: Using the WaveShaper Application Programming Interface

Welcome to the second edition of Finisar Instrumentation News a regular publication that aims to keep you up to date with all things WaveShaper-related. This newsletter showcases the upgraded WaveShaper 100S Tunable Optical Filter and introduces the new WaveManager 2.5 software package. This package includes a number of enhancements which will be of interest to most users of WaveShaper instruments. For example the new WaveSketch software allows creating and shaping your optical filters just by drag-and-drop using your computer's mouse!

WAVESHAPER 100S TUNABLE OPTICAL FILTER

We are pleased to announce a significant upgrade of our WaveShaper 100S instrument. The new WaveShaper 100S Tunable Optical Filter is a tunable, bandpass optical filter with a bandwidth that is adjustable between 10 GHz and 1000 GHz The filter shape is softwareselectable to have either a flat-top or Gaussian shape. Both filter center frequency and filter bandwidth are continuously variable in 0.1 GHz steps or, alternatively, the center frequency can be accurately aligned with the ITU G.964 grid for selecting a particular channel. The WaveShaper 100S is optimized for use in production test applications where the precise control over both the bandwidth and center frequency ensures support for both current test requirements as well as for next generation Flexgrid - based networks and subsys-tems. For test development, the WaveShaper 100S can be controlled using Finisars intuitive WaveManager graphical user interface. For high-throughput test environments, the simple Application Programming Interface supports multiple programming environments for both Windows and Linux (for further details please see the Hints and Tips section below). The WaveShaper 100S Tunable Optical Filter starts shipping in January 2013. For further details please contact your local Finisar Test & Measurement sales partner or email us at waveshaper@finisar. com.

KEEP UP TO DATE
Keep up to date with Finisar technology discussions and news on our blog at: www.finisar.com/lightspeed Check for new software and Application Notes at: www.finisar.com/instruments Check out our latest video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=YxHPJ1QfZI4

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OFC/NFOEC, Anaheim, March 19-21, 2013
Frequency Offset (THz)

Programmable filter bandwidth in WaveShaper 100S Tunable Optical Filter

WAVEMANAGER 2.5 APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Editor: Ralf Stolte ralf.stolte@finisar.com +49 170 415 6319 Version 2.5 of the WaveManager Application Software package will be released on December 20th. This upgrade provides a number of new capabilities to users of the WaveShaper family, including support for the new WaveSketch and Fourier Processing capabilities which are explained in this newsletter. The package supports Windows operating systems (XP/Vista/7) and is available free of charge for download from Finisars Test & Measurement web page at www.finisar.com/instruments.

FINISAR INSTRUMENTATION NEWS - WINTER 2012

FOURIER PROCESSING - THE OPTICAL FPGA!
Fourier processing is an amazing new capability of the WaveShaper 4000 that allows the user to split an input signal between multiple output ports. Simple structures like wavelength-dependent couplers and splitters can be created with user defined coupling ratios and frequency dependency. In addition to just splitting the power, the phase of the signals in the different ports can also be adjusted. This allows the user to create, on the fly, more complex structures like Delay Line Interferometers (e.g. DPSK-Demodulator - shown on right) or DQPSK-Demodulators with a variable, easily-programmable, optical transfer function (below). We have been working on this capability with leading edge research groups (see e.g. "LCOS based WaveShaper technology for optical signal processing and performance monitoring ", Schrder, J. et al, Proc OECC 2012, Korea, July 2012) and one of the researchers described the capability as just like an Optical FPGA- a term we think describes the capabilities of the Fourier Processor quite nicely! The ability to easily generate complex interferometric structures simplifies many areas of research which require an arbitrary optical transfer function including the ability to share (or combine) power between multiple ports. Fourier Processing is built into WaveManager 2.5 and supported on all newly shipped WaveShaper 4000 Programmable Optical Processors. For existing units, upgrades will be available. Please contact your Finisar Test & Measurement sales partner or send an email to WaveShaper@finisar.com for further information.

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Optical transfer function of a DQPSK demodulator generated in a WaveShaper 4000S using the Fourier Processor software

WAVESKETCH
WaveSketch is an exciting new capability which enables users of the WaveShaper 1000 and 4000 to manually create filter shapes using a drag and drop graphical interface. As the filter curve is manipulated on the screen, the WaveShaper transfer function is updated in real time thus allowing, for example, continuous adjustments to eliminate drift in system test applications The figure on the right shows a WaveSketch screenshot in which defined points can be added, deleted or modified as required. The filter shapes generated in WaveSketch can be saved in the WaveShaper *.wsp format and then re-used in either WaveSketch or WaveManager. WaveSketch supports all versions of the WaveShaper 1000 and 4000 and users of these instruments can access WaveSketch simply by upgrading to WaveManager 2.5.
Screenshot of WaveSketch application showing user-defined filter shape created by the WaveSketch drag and drop interface

HINTS AND TIPS

Did you know that the WaveShaper family of instruments can be controlled through an Application Programming Interface (API)? This interface allows complete control of the units from programming platforms like Matlab, Excel or LabVIEW and is supported under both Windows and Linux. Details of how to program filter shapes are available in the application note WaveShaper - Creating Simple Filter Shapes in Excel, LabVIEW and MATLAB which is available at www.finisar.com/instruments.

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