• High Switching Speed of <1 ns
• Adjustable Power Up to 17 dBm or 18 dBm
• High Extinction Ratio of 70 dB
• Fiber-Coupled Optical Amplifier Device

Features

• C-Band Amplification in 1550 nm Range
• Polarization-Dependent and Independent Versions
• Integrated Current Driver for High-Speed Switching
• Turnkey Operation with Temperature Control

Thorlabs’ HS Series High-Speed Optical Amplifier Instruments integrate high-speed drivers and polarization-independent semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) or polarization-dependent booster optical amplifiers (BOAs) to provide turnkey solutions for high-speed switching. These instruments provide high extinction ratios of 70 dB, ideal for optical shutter or switching applications.

Switching and pulsing operation is controlled through the TRIGGER INPUT port of this high-speed optical amplifier. Trigger mode options are continuous drive current (CW), Hi-Z for low-frequency operation (<1 MHz), and both AC- and DC-coupled 50 Ω triggering for high-frequency operation (>1 MHz). Output gain is produced by a variable current source, adjustable with discrete settings. With a high-speed, user-supplied trigger signal, switching speeds of <1 ns can be achieved using the input voltages specified in Table 2.3 on the Specs tab.

The drive electronics, temperature control circuits, and safety interlocks for these amplifier instruments are integrated into each device and are powered by an included DS15 power supply with a region-specific plug. Two FC/APC connectors serve as the fiber input and output ports for integration into fiber-terminated systems. Thorlabs stocks a variety of FC/APC terminated SM and PM fiber patch cables that may be used alongside these instruments.

Gain Control
The gain for these amplifier instruments is controlled by adjusting the drive current in discrete steps, which are optimized for the individual device. The drive current selector on the back panel can be set to one of 16 positions using the included 2.5 mm screwdriver. When set to the MAX position, the typical operating current for each device will allow for the maximum output power to be achieved.

Triggering
Switching operation for these amplifier instruments is controlled by a user-provided electrical waveform, via the female SMA Trigger port on the back panel. For example, this device can produce an optical pulse from a user-supplied electrical pulse.

Four trigger mode options are available: continuous drive current (CW), Hi-Z suggested for low-frequency operation (<1 MHz), 50 Ω AC, or 50 Ω DC (with the last two options coupled for high-frequency operation greater than 1 MHz). The trigger mode control, located on the back panel, allows for the selection of each of these trigger modes.

Additional Front & Back Panel Features
A dual-color (red/blue) emission indicator LED on the front panel indicates when laser output is enabled and is designed to be visible through most laser safety glasses.

In addition to the trigger port, trigger mode control, and drive current control, a dual-color (red/green) status LED on the back panel indicates the operation state, including temperature stabilization and any errors. An engraved reference for the trigger mode options is also provided. Please see the Front & Back Panels tab and manual for more details about these features.

The HS series amplifiers have built-in safety features including a key switch, interlock pin, and a four-second delay between the emission LED illuminating and amplifier output.

Triggering
Switching operation for these amplifier instruments is controlled by a user-provided electrical waveform, via the female SMA Trigger port on the back panel. For example, this device can produce an optical pulse from a user-supplied electrical pulse.

Four trigger mode options are available: continuous drive current (CW), Hi-Z suggested for low-frequency operation (<1 MHz), 50 Ω AC, or 50 Ω DC (with the last two options coupled for high-frequency operation greater than 1 MHz). The trigger mode control, located on the back panel, allows for the selection of each of these trigger modes.

addiction information

• Specification
• Graphs
• Front and Back Panels

Table 2.1  Polarization-Independent High-Speed SOA Instrument Item # HSS155A Parameter Min Typical Max Operating Wavelength 1528 nm – 1562 nm Optical Isolation (PIN/POUT) @ 0 mA and 1550 nm 60 dB – – Extinction Ratio (On/Off @ PIN = -20 dBm and 1550 nm) – 70 dB – Switching Speed – <1 ns – Max Output Power for CW Input Signal – 17 dBm – Max Output Power for Pulsed Input Signal – 17 dBm – Saturation Output Power (@ -3 dB) 12 dBm 14 dBm – Small Signal Gaina (@ PIN = -20 dBm) 10 dB 13 dB – Fiber Specifications Type (SM Fiber) SMF-28 Ultra Lengthb 1.5 ± 0.1 m Connector FC/APC As Measured Across the Bandwidth The fiber length is located internally and measures from the input or output of the instrument to the amplifier platform. Table 2.3  Trigger Specifications Input Voltage 50 Ω (AC Coupled)a 0.2 – 5.0 Vpp 50 Ω (DC Coupled) 0.2 – 5.0 V Hi-Z, 5 kΩ (DC Coupled) VIL 0 – 0.8 V VIH 2.2 – 5 V Max Timing Jitter 32 ps RMS Max Input Frequency 250 MHz Delay from Trigger Input to Amplifier Rising Edgeb 6 ± 1 ns Delay from Trigger Input to Amplifier Falling Edgeb 8.5 ± 1 ns Delay from Trigger Input to Optical Outputc 14 ± 2 ns This setting is intended for high frequency operation >1 MHz; the minimum cutoff frequency is 318 Hz. Measured Electronically by Probing Between the Trigger SMA Connector and the Amplifier Measured Between the Trigger SMA Connector and the Optical Output at the Fiber Connector Table 2.5  Power, Environmental, and Physical Specifications AC Input Frequency Range to DS15 Power Supply 50 Hz – 60 Hz AC Input Voltage to DS15 Power Supply 100 V – 240 V DC Input Voltage Range to Instrument 14.5 V – 15.5 V DC Input Current to Instrument 1000 mA (Max) Operating Temperature Range 10 °C to 45 °C Storage Temperature Range 0 °C to 60 °C Humidity Range (Relative Humidity)a 5% to 85% Mass 0.86 kg Dimensions (L x W x H) 185.6 mm x 100.0 mm x 39.4 mm (7.31″ x 3.94″ x 1.55″) Valid for Non-Condensing Environment

Table 2.2  Polarization-Dependent High-Speed BOA Instrument Item # HSB155AP Parameter Min Typical Max Operating Wavelength 1530 nm – 1580 nm Optical Isolation (PIN/POUT) @ 0 mA and 1550 nm 60 dB – – Extinction Ratio (On/Off @ PIN = -20 dBm and 1550 nm) – 70 dB – Switching Speed – <1 ns – Max Output Power for CW Input Signal – 18 dBm – Max Output Power for Pulsed Input Signal – 18 dBm – Saturation Output Power (@ -3 dB) 13 dBm 15 dBm – Small Signal Gaina (@ PIN = -20 dBm) 22 dB 25 dB – Fiber Specifications Type (PM Fiber) Corning PMF-1550 Lengthb 1.5 ± 0.1 m Connector FC/APC, Key Aligned to Slow Axis As Measured Across the Bandwidth The fiber length is located internally and measures from the input or output of the instrument to the amplifier platform. Figure 2.4  Block diagram depicting the internal architecture of the laser control system with drive electronics, safety interlocks, and temperature stabilization. The multicolored status LED indicator (red/green/amber) blinks during the 30 to 60 s warm up and glows continuously once temperature stability has been achieved. *Note: An expanded view of the Trigger is shown below Figure 2.6  Block diagram depicting the four modes of operating the HS series amplifiers.

Polarization-Independent High-Speed SOA Instrument	Polarization-Dependent High-Speed BOA Instrument
Average Small-Signal Gain Response of Two HSS155A Amplifiers for Each of 16 Discrete Drive Current Settings	Average Small-Signal Gain Response of Two HSB155AP Amplifiers for Each of 16 Discrete Drive Current Settings

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This plot shows the response of an HS Series Instrument seeded with a 1 mW distributed feedback (DFB) laser centered at 1550 nm, operating at a 1 MHz repetition rate when driven by an external pulse generator producing 2 ns, 50 ns, 100 ns, and 500 ns pulses.	This plot shows the gain response for three different drive currents when an HS Series Instrument is seeded with a 1 mW distributed feedback (DFB) laser centered at 1550 nm. Low, Medium, and High Gain correspond to drive current positions 8, 12, and 16 respectively.

Front Panel Call Out Description 1 Input Fiber Bulkhead (FC/APC), 2.0 mm Narrow Key 2 Emission Status LED, Dual Color (Red/Blue) 3 Output Fiber Bulkhead (FC/APC), 2.0 mm Narrow Key	Back Panel Call Out Description 1 Power Key Switch 2 Male Mini-XLR Connector for the +15 V Power Supply Jack 3 LED Status Indicator, Dual Color (Red/Green) 4 Drive Current Controla 5 Trigger Mode Controla 6 Trigger Input Port (Female SMA Connector) 7 Interlock Jack, 2.5 mm Mono Phono (Interlock Pin Installed) 8 Chart of Trigger Modes Adjustable using the included 2.5 mm flathead screwdriver.