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Description

VENUS Series L-Band High Stability ASE Light Sources – VASS-L-B (SM) & VASP-L-B (PM)

The VENUS Series L-band ASE light sources, models VASS-L-B for single-mode (SM) output and VASP-L-B for polarization-maintaining (PM) output, are high-performance broadband light sources engineered for demanding laboratory, industrial, and field applications. Based on an optimized Erbium-doped fiber architecture, these sources deliver a wide L-band emission spectrum from approximately 1570 nm to 1602 nm, combining broad bandwidth with excellent spectral flatness and high output stability. This makes them ideal for applications where uniform spectral power density and long-term reliability are essential, such as precision optical testing, coherent and incoherent fiber sensing, and advanced photonics research.

Designed as highly integrated systems, VENUS Series L-band ASE sources are available in a convenient benchtop format with an intuitive front-panel interface and high-definition LCD display. Users can monitor operating current and voltage in real time while continuously adjusting the output power over a wide tuning range. Typical output power levels include 10 mW, 20 mW, 30 mW, and up to 100 mW, providing ample flexibility to match a variety of test and measurement scenarios. The benchtop unit also incorporates high-quality optical isolation (typically around 30 dB) and carefully managed thermal control to ensure excellent power stability over both short (15 minutes) and extended (8-hour) timeframes, even across the full specified operating temperature range.

Spectral performance is a key strength of the VENUS Series. The sources offer a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) bandwidth spanning tens of nanometers in the L-band with spectral flatness on the order of a few dB (typical values near 3.5 dB across the usable band). This level of flatness is particularly advantageous for component characterization, dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) testing, and spectral analysis where non-uniform sources can introduce measurement errors. The high degree of flatness, combined with excellent power repeatability and low intensity ripple, positions these sources favorably among L-band ASE light sources used in optical communications and fiber sensor interrogation systems.

Output configuration options make the VENUS Series suitable for diverse experimental setups. The VASS-L-B model delivers light through standard SMF 9/125 µm fiber (NA ≈ 0.13), ensuring compatibility with most telecom-grade components and networks. The VASP-L-B model provides polarization-maintaining PM1550 fiber output (NA ≈ 0.13) with a polarization extinction ratio exceeding 17 dB, making it ideal for polarization-sensitive systems such as interferometric fiber-optic gyroscopes, coherent detection schemes, and advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) configurations operating in the L-band. Both models are supplied with FC/APC optical connectors as standard, with other connector types available on request, and are typically shipped with a convenient output fiber length suitable for integration into laboratory benches or OEM setups.

For users developing compact instruments or embedded photonic systems, the VENUS Series also comes in a space-saving module package in addition to the benchtop unit. The module version preserves the same optical performance while allowing easy integration into larger systems. It operates from a universal AC input (100–240 VAC) with modest power consumption, and its internal control electronics provide stable drive conditions for the Er-doped gain medium. Together with a broad operating temperature range and robust mechanical design, this ensures high reliability in both controlled lab environments and more challenging industrial settings.

Typical applications for the VENUS Series L-band ASE light sources include optical component and subsystem testing, broadband source illumination for spectrum analysis, and as reference or probe sources in optical fiber sensing networks. They are widely used in Brillouin and Rayleigh-based distributed fiber sensing, fiber-optic gyroscope development, and R&D on L-band amplification and transmission technologies. The combination of tunable output power, wide L-band coverage, high spectral flatness, and exceptional power stability allows researchers and engineers to perform accurate, repeatable measurements and system characterization without the need for multiple discrete sources or complex gain-flattening schemes.

Overall, the VASS-L-B and VASP-L-B models of the VENUS Series provide a robust and versatile platform for L-band ASE generation. Their optimized Erbium-doped fiber design, integrated control electronics, and user-friendly benchtop or compact module formats meet the needs of advanced optical laboratories, manufacturing test lines, and OEM system builders seeking a dependable, high-stability broadband L-band

VENUS Series L-band High Stability ASE Light Source

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Specifications

Bandwidth: 32 nm
Center Wavelength: 1602 nm
Output Power: 100 mW
Polarization: Linear
Product Series: VENUS series L-band ASE light source
Models: VASS-L-B (SM), VASP-L-B (PM)
Output Power (typical Options): 10 mW, 20 mW, 30 mW, 100 mW
Operating Wavelength Range: 1570–1602 nm
Spectral Flatness: ≤ 3.5 dB
Output Isolation: ≥ 30 dB
Output Power Stability (15 Min): ±1.0 %
Output Power Stability (8 H): ±2.0 %
Output Power Tunable Range: 0–100 %
Output Power Tunable Mode: Coarse / Fine
Operating Voltage: 100–240 VAC
Power Consumption (max): 50 W
Operating Temperature: 0–85 ℃
Storage Temperature: -40–100 ℃
Output Fiber Type (SM Model): SMF 9/125 μm, NA=0.13
Output Fiber Type (PM Model): PM1550, NA=0.13
Polarization Extinction Ratio (PM Output Fiber): > 17 dB
Output Fiber Length: > 1 m
Optical Connector: FC/APC (other options available)
Dimensions (benchtop): 340(L) × 240(W) × 100(H) mm

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Features

  • Wideband L‑Band ASE Spectrum (1570–1602 nm) – Optimized Er‑doped fiber design delivers a broad L‑band amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectrum, ideal for telecom, sensing, and test applications across the 1570–1602 nm range.
  • High Spectral Flatness (≤ 3.5 dB) – Extremely flat output power spectral density minimizes wavelength‑dependent variations, providing more uniform illumination for spectrum analysis, component characterization, and fiber sensing.
  • High Output Power with Multiple Power Levels – Supports a range of output powers (typical 10 mW, 20 mW, 30 mW, up to 100 mW), enabling use from low‑power lab setups to demanding system‑level tests and integrations.
  • Excellent Power Stability – Output power stability of up to ±0.5% (15 min) and ±1.0% (8 h) after warm‑up at 25°C ensures repeatable measurements and long‑term reliability in critical experiments and production environments.
  • Continuously Tunable Output Power – Built‑in power control with coarse/fine tuning modes allows precise adjustment of output level over a wide tuning range, simplifying device characterization and system optimization.
  • Single‑Mode (SM) and Polarization‑Maintaining (PM) Versions – Available as:
    • VASS‑L‑B – SM fiber output using SMF‑28 type 9/125 μm fiber (NA = 0.13) for general telecom and test applications.
    • VASP‑L‑B – PM fiber output using PM1550 fiber (NA = 0.13) with PER > 17 dB for polarization‑sensitive systems such as interferometers and gyroscopes.
  • High Output Isolation (≥ 30 dB) – Integrated optical isolator protects the internal source from back‑reflections, enhancing lifetime, measurement accuracy, and system robustness.
  • High Reliability over Wide Temperature Range – Designed for stable operation from 0°C to 50°C (typical), with storage down to –40°C and up to +85°C, supporting both lab use and field‑deployed equipment.
  • Integrated Benchtop Platform with LCD Display – Compact benchtop unit provides:
    • High‑definition LCD showing current, voltage, and output power in real time.
    • Front‑panel control of power setpoints and tuning mode.
    • Intuitive operation for R&D and production testing.
  • Compact Module Version for OEM Integration – In addition to the benchtop, a module package (M) is available for system builders, enabling easy integration into optical instruments, sensing platforms, and automated test systems.
  • Flexible Optical Interface – Standard FC/APC connector for low back‑reflection; other connector options available on request, simplifying compatibility with existing fiber networks and test benches.
  • Low Noise, Incoherent Source – ASE emission provides broadband, low‑coherence light, reducing interference effects and speckle, ideal for fiber sensing, gyroscopes, and component testing where coherent lasers are not suitable.
  • Universal AC Power Input – Wide‑range 100–240 VAC input with low power consumption (typical < 50 W, max up to 100 W under extreme conditions) supports global deployment and standard lab power setups.
  • Rugged Mechanical Design – Benchtop unit with typical dimensions of 340 (L) × 240 (W) × 100 (H) mm provides a stable platform for continuous lab and production use.
  • Optimized for Precision Measurement and Sensing – Engineered specifically for:
    • Optical component and subsystem testing (filters, EDFAs, WDM devices, couplers, multiplexers).
    • Optical fiber sensing systems (DTS, DAS, FBG interrogation, structural health monitoring).
    • Optical fiber gyroscopes where stable broadband L‑band sources are essential.
    • Spectrum analysis and instrument calibration across the L‑band window.
    • General laboratory and R&D applications requiring a stable, broadband L‑band light source.

Applications

  • Optical Component Characterization and Testing
    Used as a broadband, high-stability L-band source for testing insertion loss, return loss, and spectral response of passive components such as WDMs, filters, couplers, splitters, isolators, and circulators in the 1570–1602 nm region.
  • L‑Band DWDM System Development and Qualification
    Provides a spectrally flat ASE background for evaluating L‑band DWDM channels, gain equalization, OSNR performance, and spectral shaping in advanced telecom systems and optical network laboratories.
  • Erbium‑Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) and Raman Amplifier Testing
    Serves as a stable, tunable input source to characterize gain, noise figure, saturation behavior, and transient response of L‑band EDFAs and distributed Raman amplifiers.
  • Optical Fiber Sensing Systems
    Acts as an L‑band broadband light source for interferometric and intensity‑based fiber sensors, including temperature, strain, pressure, and acoustic sensing in civil engineering, oil & gas, and aerospace applications.
  • Distributed Fiber Sensing (DTS, DAS, DVS)
    Provides high spectral flatness and stability required for distributed temperature sensing (DTS), distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), and distributed vibration sensing (DVS) systems based on scattering mechanisms in the L‑band.
  • Optical Coherence and Interferometry Experiments
    Used as a low‑coherence, broadband source for Michelson, Mach‑Zehnder, and Sagnac interferometers in metrology and fundamental research where L‑band operation is preferred.
  • Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOG)
    Employed as a depolarized, broadband light source for high‑precision fiber optic gyroscopes, reducing coherent noise and bias drift to improve rotation sensing accuracy and long‑term stability.
  • Optical Spectrum Analysis and Instrument Calibration
    Provides a smooth, well‑characterized spectral profile for calibrating optical spectrum analyzers (OSA), verifying wavelength accuracy, and checking resolution and dynamic range in the L‑band.
  • Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) and Waveguide Testing
    Supplies a wideband input for characterizing planar lightwave circuits, silicon photonics devices, and integrated filters operating in the L‑band, enabling measurement of broadband transmission and reflection spectra.
  • Reliability and Burn‑In Testing of Optical Components
    Used in long‑term stability and aging tests of L‑band components and modules, where high output power stability and reliability over extended periods and temperature ranges are critical.
  • Laboratory Light Source for Telecom and Datacom R&D
    Acts as a general‑purpose, user‑friendly bench light source with tunable output power for research on modulation formats, nonlinear effects, and system prototypes in the L‑band window.
  • Nonlinear Fiber Optics and Supercontinuum Research
    Provides a high‑power, broadband pump source for experiments on four‑wave mixing, self‑phase modulation, and other nonlinear processes in specialty fibers and waveguides in the L‑band.
  • Optical Coating and Filter Characterization
    Enables broadband reflection and transmission measurements of thin‑film coatings, interference filters, and bandpass / notch filters designed for the 1.57–1.6 µm spectral region.
  • Polarization‑Sensitive Measurements (with PM Output Version)
    The PM variant is used for polarization extinction ratio (PER) characterization, polarization maintaining component testing, and experiments where a stable polarization state in the L‑band is required.
  • System Integration in OEM Modules
    Compact module versions are integrated into larger photonic systems such as sensing platforms, test equipment, or communication subsystems that require a stable, maintenance‑free L‑band ASE source.
  • Educational and Training Laboratories
    Serves as a robust, easy‑to‑operate L‑band source for university and training labs to demonstrate optical amplification, WDM concepts, fiber sensing principles, and interferometry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Connet VENUS series L-band ASE light source and what are its main features?
The Connet VENUS series L-band ASE light source is a high‑stability amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) broadband source operating in the L‑band (typically 1570–1602 nm). It uses an optimized Er‑doped fiber design to deliver wide spectral bandwidth, high output power, and excellent power stability over the full operating temperature range. Key features include: L‑band wide spectrum emission, very high spectral flatness (typ. ≤3.5 dB), single‑mode (SM) or polarization‑maintaining (PM) fiber output, continuously tunable output power (coarse/fine), high output isolation (≥30 dB), high reliability, and a benchtop package with LCD display or a compact module for system integration. Typical output powers are 10 mW, 20 mW, 30 mW, and up to 100 mW.
What are typical applications of the VENUS L-band ASE light sources (VASS-L-B SM and VASP-L-B PM)?
The VENUS L‑band ASE sources are designed for both R&D and production environments where a broadband, highly stable L‑band source is required. Typical applications include: component characterization and testing (L‑band filters, WDM components, EDFAs, isolators, etc.), optical fiber sensing systems (e.g., distributed sensing, FBG interrogation in L‑band), fiber gyroscopes and other interferometric systems, optical spectrum analysis and instrument calibration, and general laboratory applications that need a low‑coherence, broadband L‑band source. The SM version (VASS‑L‑B) is suited for standard test setups, while the PM version (VASP‑L‑B) is preferred for polarization‑sensitive and interferometric measurements.
What is the wavelength range, spectral width, and spectral flatness of the VENUS L-band ASE source?
According to the datasheet, the VENUS series L‑band ASE light sources operate from about 1570 nm up to 1602 nm in the L‑band. The emission is broadband ASE rather than a narrow laser line, with a full‑width at half‑maximum (FWHM) bandwidth in the tens of nanometers (exact value can vary with the configured output power and internal gain setting, but it covers most of the 1570–1602 nm region). A key differentiator is its high spectral flatness: the typical spectral ripple across the L‑band is specified around 3.5 dB, which is competitive with other L‑band ASE modules on the market and well‑suited for component testing and spectrum‑dependent measurements where uniform power spectral density is important.
What output power levels and stability can I expect from the VENUS L-band ASE sources?
The VENUS series offers selectable nominal output power levels; common standard options are 10 mW, 20 mW, 30 mW, and 100 mW. The exact part number encodes the power (e.g., VASS‑L‑B‑20 for 20 mW, VASP‑L‑B‑100 for 100 mW). The benchtop unit provides continuously tunable output power over a range that typically extends from 0 up to the rated maximum, using coarse and fine adjustment modes. Power stability is a core specification: after 30 minutes of warm‑up at 25 °C, short‑term stability over 15 minutes is typically within ±0.5–1.0% of the set value, and long‑term stability over 8 hours is typically within about ±1–2%. These figures are comparable to other high‑end ASE sources and make the device suitable for precision measurements that are sensitive to power drift.
What is the difference between the SM (VASS-L-B) and PM (VASP-L-B) versions, and what is the polarization extinction ratio?
The main difference is the type of output fiber and the level of polarization control. The VASS‑L‑B model provides single‑mode (SM) fiber output using standard SMF‑28‑class fiber (SMF 9/125 µm, NA≈0.13). It is appropriate when polarization state is not critical or when downstream components handle random polarization. The VASP‑L‑B model provides polarization‑maintaining (PM) fiber output, typically PM1550 fiber with NA≈0.13. The PM version offers a polarization extinction ratio (PER) >17 dB at the PM output fiber, allowing more stable and predictable polarization for interferometric setups, fiber gyroscopes, and polarization‑sensitive component tests. In both cases, the standard connector is FC/APC (other connector types are available on request).
How is the output power controlled and what user interfaces and power requirements does the benchtop unit have?
The VENUS benchtop L‑band ASE source integrates a front‑panel user interface with a high‑definition LCD that simultaneously displays operating current, drive voltage, and output power. The output power can be adjusted continuously using coarse and fine tuning modes, which allows both quick large‑range adjustment and precise setting near the desired level. The instrument accepts a wide AC input range of 100–240 VAC, making it suitable for global laboratory and production environments. Maximum electrical power consumption is on the order of tens of watts (tested under extreme temperature conditions), and internal control electronics ensure safe and stable operation of the Er‑doped fiber module.
What are the environmental, mechanical, and fiber interface specifications of the VENUS L-band ASE light source?
The VENUS L‑band ASE sources are specified for an operating temperature range of approximately 0–50 °C (typical for Connet benchtop instruments; stability is guaranteed over this range) and a storage temperature range from about −40 °C to +85 °C. The standard benchtop unit has dimensions of roughly 340 mm (L) × 240 mm (W) × 100 mm (H). Output is via a fixed pigtail of SM or PM fiber (standard length ≥1 m), terminated with an FC/APC connector; alternative connectors (e.g., FC/PC, SC/APC) can be requested. The output isolation is typically ≥30 dB to protect the internal laser/EDF stage from back‑reflections. These specifications make the unit robust for laboratory use and for integration into test racks or measurement systems.

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