Agilent's N4391A analyzer Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has introduced the industry's first time-domain based optical modulation analyzer offering in-depth analysis of amplitude and phase-modulated optical signals.

This optical test instrument was developed in close cooperation with Agilent Laboratories, the central research arm of Agilent Technologies. It is based on wide-bandwidth, polarization-diverse coherent optical receiver technology, the Agilent 89600 vector signal analysis software (VSA), and Agilent's high-speed real-time data acquisition unit called the Infiniium Series 90000 oscilloscope. This is the first time-domain-analysis-based coherent detection system and offers highest flexibility and in-depth analysis of amplitude and phase modulated optical signals in a turn-key solution, allowing scientists and engineers to rapidly test their ideas. Features include optical coherent receiver supporting >100G transmission rates — full support of DPSK/DQPSK, including Polarization Multiplexing — optical receiver bandwidth >37 GHz (74 GHz optical) — choice of 34 digital modulation formats — plus a choice of 20 customizable data-analysis tools. Agilent will unveil the N4391A at OFC/NFOEC 2009, San Diego Convention Center, Calif., Booth 1719, March 23-26.