Bi-Lateral Comparison between NIS-Egypt and NMISA-South Africa for the Calibration of an Optical Spectrum Analyzer

Authors: Osama Terra, Hatem Hussein, Adriaan Van Brakel

Abstract:

Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology requires tight specification and therefore measurement of wavelength accuracy and stability of the telecommunication lasers. Thus, calibration of the used Optical Spectrum Analyzers (OSAs) that are used to measure wavelength is of a great importance. Proficiency testing must be performed on such measuring activity to insure the accuracy of the measurement results. In this paper, a new comparison scheme is introduced to test the performance of such calibrations. This comparison scheme is implemented between NIS-Egypt and NMISA-South Africa for the calibration of the wavelength scale of an OSA. Both institutes employ reference gas cell to calibrate OSA according to the standard IEC/ BS EN 62129 (2006). The result of this comparison is compiled in this paper.

Keywords: OSA calibration, HCN gas cell, DWDM technology, wavelength measurement.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1314598

References:

[1] R. Antil, Pinki, S. Beniwal, “An Overview of DWDM Technology & Network”, International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, volume 1, issue 11, December (2012).
[2] IEC/EN/BS standard, “Calibration of optical spectrum analyzers”, IEC/ BS EN 62129 (2006).
[3] M. Kojima, T. Mori, T. Kaneko, T. Yamamoto, A. Horiguchi, G. Ishihara,“High-speed Measurement Technologies of AQ6370C Optical Spectrum Analyzer”, Yokogawa Technical Report, Vol.55 No.1 (2012).
[4] W. C. Swann and S. L. Gilbert, “Line centres, pressure shift, and pressure broadening of 1530–1560 nm hydrogen cyanide wavelength calibration lines”, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B., Vol. 22, No. 8, August (2005).
[5] H. Sasada and K. Yamada, “Calibration lines of HCN in the 1.5-Mum region”, Applied optics, Vol. 29, No. 24 (1990).
[6] BIPM/IEC/ISO. “Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement”. ISBN9267101889 (1995).