The Keysight Agilent 11896A Motorized Polarization Controller is designed to cover a wide wavelength range from 1250 nm to 1640 nm. Utilizing a motorized four-loop optical fiber design, it achieves complete coverage of the Poincaré sphere with extremely low optical insertion loss variation of ±0.002 dB. This high-stability performance makes it an essential instrument for polarization dependent loss (PDL) and gain measurements where power-sensitive accuracy is critical.
Specifications
General
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Interfaces | GPIB (HP-IB) |
| Display | Front panel LED display |
Physical
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Supply | 90 - 132 VAC or 198 - 264 VAC, 47 - 66 Hz, 45 VA max |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to +55°C |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 425 mm × 89 mm × 520 mm |
| Weight | 9.0 |
Optical Performance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating Wavelength Range | 1250 - 1600 nm |
| Insertion Loss Variation | ±0.002 dB |
| Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL) | < 0.01 dB |
| Internal Fiber Type | 9/125 µm single-mode fiber |
| Maximum Input Optical Power | +20 dBm |
Operation and Control
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Control Modes | Manual, auto scan, and GPIB control |
| Polarization Scrambling Speeds | 8 selectable scan rates |
| SOP Adjustment Mechanism | Four independent motorized fiber loops |
Environmental and Standards
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Storage Temperature Range | -40°C to +75°C |
Optical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Return Loss | > 40 dB (with PC connectors), > 50 dB (with APC connectors) |
| Optical Connectors | FC/PC, HMS-10, DIN 47256, ST, or SC/APC (option dependent) |
| Operating Wavelength Range Options | 1250 to 1600 nm (Option 025), 1200 to 1700 nm (Option 026) |
Architecture
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Retarder Element Type | Four motorized fiber-loop quarter-wave retarders |
Performance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of Retarder Loops | 4 |
| Retarder Angular Range | -90° to +90° |
| Retarder Angular Resolution | 0.18° (1000 steps) |
| Poincaré Sphere Coverage | > 99.9% (for speed settings 1 to 5) |
| Poincaré Sphere Scan Time | 1.25 s to 160 s (speed setting dependent) |
Technology
Fiber Optic Polarization Control
Applications
Optical component testing, PDL and gain measurements, polarization scrambling