Thumbnail of Connet VENUS L-Band High Stability ASE Light Source photo 1

Description

VENUS Series L-Band ASE Light Source – High-Stability Broadband L-Band Source

The VENUS Series L-band ASE light source is a high-performance amplified spontaneous emission source engineered for demanding fiber-optic test and measurement environments. Using an optimized erbium-doped fiber design, this source delivers broadband L-band emission across approximately 1570–1602 nm with excellent spectral flatness and high output stability. Its performance makes it a strong fit for precision component characterization, advanced optical sensing setups, and laboratory research that require a reliable, repeatable L-band optical reference.

Unlike simple fixed-output sources, the VENUS L-band ASE platform integrates a tunable output power architecture, allowing users to adjust power from 0 to 100% of the rated level. Typical output powers range from 10 mW up to 100 mW, covering both low-power characterization tasks and higher-power applications. The combination of wide spectral bandwidth (around 32 nm FWHM), high spectral flatness (within about 3.5 dB), and stable output ensures that devices such as filters, multiplexers, sensors, and gyroscope components can be evaluated accurately over the full L-band window.

The benchtop configuration of the VENUS Series is designed for ease of use in research labs and production lines. It incorporates a clear LCD interface that simultaneously displays operating current, voltage, and output power, giving real-time feedback during experiments or calibration procedures. Coarse and fine power adjustment modes simplify both quick set-up and precise optimization, while the internal control electronics maintain power stability typically within ±0.5% over 15 minutes and ±1.0% over 8 hours under standard conditions. This level of stability compares favorably with similar L-band ASE sources used in professional photonics labs and industrial environments.

For integration into larger systems or OEM platforms, the VENUS L-band ASE light source is also available in a compact module package. This format is suited for rack-mounted test platforms, distributed fiber sensing units, and optical subsystems where space and power budgets are constrained. With a typical maximum power consumption of about 20 W over a wide operating temperature range from 0 to +50 °C, the module can be embedded into field-deployed equipment while maintaining long-term reliability and repeatable optical performance.

The source is offered with either standard single-mode fiber output (SMF 9/125 µm) or polarization-maintaining fiber (PM1550) to support applications where polarization behavior is critical, such as interferometric sensing and fiber gyroscopes. The PM version provides a high polarization extinction ratio, making it suitable for polarization-sensitive measurements and coherent detection schemes. A standard FC/APC connector helps minimize back reflections and is compatible with common fiber-optic components and test setups used across telecom, sensing, and research laboratories.

With its combination of broad L-band coverage, high flatness, tunable power, and robust stability, the VENUS Series L-band ASE light source serves as a versatile workhorse for component testing, optical fiber sensing systems, fiber gyroscopes, spectrum analysis, and a wide range of laboratory applications. Its design aligns with the performance expectations of modern photonics research and production testing, providing a dependable and precise optical source wherever high-quality L-band ASE is required.

Connet VENUS L-Band High Stability ASE Light Source

Visit the Connet Laser Technology Co., Ltd. Store

Specifications

Bandwidth: 32 nm
Center Wavelength: 1602 nm
Output Power: 100 mW
Polarization: Random
Spectral Flatness (Gain Flatness): 30-35 dB
Power Consumption: 20 W
Spectral Flatness (Standard): 3.5 dB
Output Isolation: ±0.5 %
Stability Of Output Power（15min）: ±1.0 %
Output Power Operating Range: caorse/fine adjustment
Operating Voltage: 100-240 VAC
Operating Temperature: 0 to +50 °C
Storage Temperature: -40 to +85 ℃
Dimension: 340(L)×240(W)×100(H) mm

Got questions about specs? Use the inquiry form to ask.

Document icon Download Data Sheet Download icon

Features

  • Wide L‑Band ASE Spectrum (1570–1602 nm) – Optimized Er‑doped fiber design delivers a broad amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectrum in the L‑band, ideal for telecom, sensing, and research applications.
  • High Output Power up to 100 mW – Configurable output power (10, 20, 30, 100 mW typical) supports both low‑power characterization and high‑power system testing.
  • Excellent Spectral Flatness (< 3.5 dB) – Very flat output spectrum across the full L‑band improves measurement accuracy and minimizes wavelength‑dependent bias in component and system tests.
  • Superior Power Stability – Output power stability of ±0.5% (15 min) and ±1.0% (8 h, typical, after warm‑up at 25 °C) ensures repeatable measurements in long‑term experiments and production environments.
  • Continuously Tunable Output Power (0–100%) – Built‑in coarse and fine power adjustment enables precise control of output level for DUT protection, linearity tests, and dynamic range optimization.
  • High Isolation Output Stage – Integrated optical isolator with ≥ 30 dB (typ. 35 dB) isolation reduces back‑reflection sensitivity and protects the internal laser, increasing lifetime and reliability.
  • Single‑Mode (SM) and Polarization‑Maintaining (PM) Options – Available with SMF 9/125 μm or PM 1550 fiber; PM version offers PER > 17 dB, suited for coherent detection, gyroscopes, and polarization‑sensitive setups.
  • Stable SM Fiber Output – High‑quality single‑mode fiber output ensures clean spatial mode and low modal noise, simplifying alignment in lab and system‑integration environments.
  • High Reliability Over Wide Temperature Range – Stable operation from 0 to +50 °C and storage from −40 to +85 °C supports both laboratory use and field‑deployable systems.
  • High‑Definition LCD with Real‑Time Readouts – Benchtop units feature an easy‑to‑read LCD that simultaneously displays output power, drive current, and voltage for intuitive monitoring and control.
  • User‑Friendly Benchtop Design – Compact 340(L) × 240(W) × 100(H) mm housing with front‑panel controls streamlines daily operation for R&D labs and production test benches.
  • Low Power Consumption (< 20 W) – Efficient internal electronics minimize power usage and heat dissipation, improving stability and lowering operating costs.
  • Flexible Packaging: Benchtop or Module – Available as a turnkey bench instrument (B package) or compact module (M package) for OEM and system‑level integration.
  • Standard FC/APC Connector Interface – Delivered with FC/APC connector for low back‑reflection; other connector types are available on request for easy integration into existing setups.
  • Ideal for Component and System Testing – Optimized for component test, optical fiber sensing, optical gyroscopes, spectrum analysis, and general laboratory applications where a stable, flat L‑band source is required.
  • High Stability and Long‑Term Reliability – Robust design, quality Er‑doped fiber, and controlled drive electronics provide long service life and consistent performance in continuous operation.

Applications

  • Passive Optical Component Testing – Ideal for characterizing insertion loss, return loss, and spectral response of filters, WDMs, couplers, splitters, circulators, isolators, and add/drop multiplexers in the L‑band. The high spectral flatness and broad bandwidth provide accurate measurements across 1570–1602 nm.
  • Optical Fiber Sensing Systems (OFDR, DAS, FBG) – Used as a low-coherence broadband source in L‑band fiber sensing platforms, including optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) interrogation systems where stable, flat ASE output is critical for high-resolution sensing.
  • Optical Gyroscopes and Inertial Navigation – Provides the depolarized, broadband light source required for interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes (IFOGs) and other rotation sensing systems, helping to minimize coherent noise and bias drift while maintaining excellent power stability.
  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in L‑Band – Suitable as a broadband source for L‑band OCT systems and low‑coherence interferometry setups, where the 32 nm FWHM bandwidth and high stability help improve axial resolution and image quality.
  • Spectrum Analysis and OSA Calibration – Serves as a reference broadband source for testing, calibrating, and verifying optical spectrum analyzers (OSAs) and tunable filters in the L‑band, thanks to its high spectral flatness (≤3.5 dB) across the operating range.
  • Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM/CWDM/DWDM) Development – Used in R&D and production of dense and coarse WDM systems operating in or extending to the L‑band, enabling gain equalization, channel characterization, and filter verification for multi‑channel networks.
  • EDFAs and L‑Band Amplifier Characterization – Provides a stable, broadband input source for testing gain, noise figure, saturation characteristics, and transient behavior of Er‑doped fiber amplifiers and hybrid C+L band amplifier modules.
  • Optical Network Simulation and Lab Emulation – Acts as a tunable power, broadband noise‑like source for emulating ASE noise and background loading in L‑band optical communication links, useful for system penalty tests, OSNR experiments, and performance margin evaluations.
  • Photonic Integration and PIC Testing – Supports on‑wafer and packaged testing of L‑band photonic integrated circuits (PICs), including modulators, switches, wavelength‑selective components, and integrated filters, where uniform spectral power is needed for accurate device characterization.
  • Metrology and Interferometric Measurements – Employed as a low‑coherence light source in precision interferometers, length and index metrology setups, and optical path difference measurements that benefit from reduced coherent artifacts and stable output.
  • Laser and Filter Gain Profile Measurements – Enables measurement of gain spectra, loss spectra, and transmission curves of L‑band laser cavities, gain media, and optical filters, leveraging the wide spectrum and high flatness to resolve spectral features accurately.
  • Polarization‑Maintaining System Experiments – With the PM output option (VASP‑L series) and high PER, it is suitable for experiments and systems that require well‑defined polarization states, such as PM interferometers, coherent detection setups, and polarization‑sensitive sensors in the L‑band.
  • Educational and Research Laboratories – A robust general‑purpose L‑band ASE source for university and industrial labs engaged in optical communications, photonics, quantum optics (in the 1.5 µm region), and advanced fiber technology research, where tunable output power and high reliability are required.
  • Production Line Testing and Burn‑In – Used as a stable, maintenance‑friendly broadband illumination source for automated test systems and burn‑in stations for L‑band components and subsystems, supporting long‑term stability tests over 8+ hours.
  • Optical Sensor Network Calibration – Provides a reference source for calibrating and validating large‑scale L‑band fiber sensor networks, including multi‑point temperature, strain, and structural health monitoring systems deployed over long distances.
  • Optical Filter and AWG Characterization – Well suited for characterizing L‑band arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), thin‑film filters, and programmable optical processors, enabling accurate passband, stopband, and channel‑to‑channel uniformity measurements.
  • Noise Loading and OSNR Stress Testing – Functions as a controllable ASE noise source to stress optical receivers and transmission systems, allowing engineers t

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Connet VENUS series L-band ASE light source and what are its main applications?
The Connet VENUS series L-band ASE light source is a high-stability amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source based on optimized Er-doped fiber. It provides a wide L-band spectrum (1570–1602 nm), high spectral flatness, tunable output power, and excellent long‑term stability in a benchtop or module package. Typical applications include optical component testing (e.g., filters, WDM devices, isolators), optical fiber sensing systems, optical fiber gyroscopes, spectrum analysis, and general laboratory and R&D use where a broadband, low-coherence L‑band source is required.
What are the key optical specifications of the VENUS L-band ASE light source?
The VENUS L-band ASE source offers: - Operating wavelength range: 1570–1602 nm (L-band) - Spectral width (FWHM): ~32 nm (typical) - Spectral flatness: better than 3.5 dB over the specified band - Output power options: typically 10 mW, 20 mW, 30 mW, up to 100 mW - Output isolation: ≥30 dB (typ.), 35 dB max - Short-term power stability (15 min): ±0.5% typ. (±1.0% max) - Long-term power stability (8 h): ±1.0% typ. (±2.0% max) These specifications make it suitable for precision measurements and for use as a reference broadband source in L‑band optical systems.
What output fiber types and polarization options are available for the VENUS L-band ASE source?
The VENUS series is available in both single mode (SM) and polarization-maintaining (PM) configurations: - SM version (Part No. VASS-L-B): SMF 9/125 µm fiber, NA=0.13 - PM version (Part No. VASP-L-B): PM1550 fiber, NA=0.13, with PER >17 dB (typical) at the output Both versions provide more than 1 m of output fiber by default and use an FC/APC connector as standard, with other connector types available on request. The PM version is recommended for applications like interferometry, coherent detection, and fiber gyroscopes, where stable polarization is required.
How is the output power controlled and how stable is it over time and temperature?
The benchtop VENUS L-band ASE source features continuously tunable output power from 0–100% of the specified maximum output, with both coarse and fine adjustment modes for precise setting. A high-definition LCD simultaneously displays output power, drive current, and voltage for real-time monitoring. After a 30-minute warm‑up at 25 °C, the short-term power stability is typically within ±0.5% over 15 minutes, and long-term stability is within ±1% over 8 hours. The design maintains high stability across the full operating temperature range of 0 to +50 °C, making it suitable for long measurement runs and system integration.
What package types, power supply requirements, and physical dimensions does the VENUS L-band ASE source have?
The VENUS series is offered as: - Benchtop package (B): fully integrated front-panel instrument with LCD, power tuning controls, and standard AC mains input - Module package (M): compact OEM module for system integration Electrical and mechanical details: - Operating voltage: 100–240 VAC (benchtop) - Maximum power consumption: up to 20 W under extreme temperature conditions - Operating temperature: 0 to +50 °C; storage: –40 to +85 °C - Benchtop dimensions: 340 (L) × 240 (W) × 100 (H) mm The module version is designed for easy integration into larger fiber‑optic test systems, sensing platforms, and production equipment.
How do I select and order the correct VENUS L-band ASE model and output power?
Ordering is based on fiber type, package, and output power. The standard ordering codes are: - VASS-L-P- for SM output - VASP-L-P- for PM output Where: - P = Package type: B for benchtop, M for module - = Nominal output power in mW (e.g., 10, 20, 30, 100) Examples: - VASS-L-B-20 → SM fiber, L-band, benchtop, 20 mW output - VASP-L-M-100 → PM fiber, L-band, module, 100 mW output If you have special requirements (custom power levels, connector types, fiber length, or extended environmental specs), you should contact the manufacturer or distributor to confirm feasibility before ordering.
What are typical use cases compared with other L-band ASE sources on the market?
In comparison with other L-band ASE light sources from major photonics vendors, the VENUS series is aimed at users needing a combination of wide L‑band coverage (1570–1602 nm), good spectral flatness (

Got more questions? Use the inquiry form to ask the supplier directly.

Similar Products

Request Quote