Features

• High Switching Speed of 1 ns (Typ.)
• 1550 nm Wavelength Operation
• Polarization-Dependent and Independent Versions
• Fiber Pigtails with FC/APC Connectors
• Case Temperature Control via Internal Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) Element

Thorlabs’ High-Speed Optical Shutters/Switches are designed specifically for applications requiring an optical shutter with operation around 1550 nm. All our optical switches provide an extinction ratio greater than 60 dB. The devices are based on our semiconductor amplifier platform consisting of a highly efficient InP/InGaAsP Multiple Quantum Well (MQW) layer structures grown on an InP wafer and processed into a proven and reliable ridge waveguide. The device can operate as a lossless, high-speed, optical isolation switch, a full-range variable optical attenuator (VOA), or an optical shutter for protection of delicate optical equipment.

Mount and Driver Options
These butterfly packages are compatible with the CLD1015 laser diode mount with integrated controller and TEC, however, this controller will only be able to achieve switching speeds of around 4 µs. They are also compatible with the LM14TS and LM14S2 mounts, which can be used with our laser diode, TEC, and combined current/TEC controllers. When operating these lasers in environments with more than 5 °C variation in temperature, we recommend using the LM14TS mount, which provides active control of the butterfly package’s case temperature to stabilize the amplifier’s output wavelength and power. For information on compatible drivers that can achieve switching times up to the specified 1 ns time scale, please contact USContact Us  

• Specification
• Graphs
• Pin Diagram

Polarization-Dependent Optical Shutters/Switches

Item #	BOA1004PXS			BOA1550PXSa
Parameter	Min	Typical	Max	Min	Typical	Max
Operating Current (IOP)	–	600 mA	750 mA	–	900 mA	950 mA
Operating Wavelength	1500 nm	–	1600 nm	–	–	–
ASE Center Wavelength	–	–	–	1530 nm	1550 nm	1580 nm
Optical 3 dB Bandwidth	–	–	–	95 nm	105 nm	–
Optical Isolation (PIN/POUT) @ 0 mA and 1550 nm	40 dB	–	–	40 dB	–	–
Extinction Ratio (On/Off @ PIN = -20 dBm and 1550 nm)	–	70 dB	–	–	70 dBb	–
Switching Speed	–	1 ns	–	–	1 ns	–
Max Output Power for CW Input Signal	–	18 dBm	–	–	21 dBmc	–
Max Output Power for Modulated Input Signal	–	10 dBm	–	–	See Footnote d	–
Saturation Output Power (@ -3 dB)	13 dBm	15 dBm	–	17 dBmb,c	18 dBmb,c	–
Noise Figure	–	8.0 dB	9.5 dB	–	8.5 dBb,c	9.5 dBb,c
Small Signal Gain (@ PIN = -20 dBm)	22 dBe	25 dBe	–	24 dBb,c	27 dBb,c	–
Forward Voltage	–	1.6 V	1.8 V	–	1.6 Vb	2.1 Vb
Chip Length	–	1.5 mm	–	–	1.5 mm	–
Waveguide Refractive Index	–	3.2	–	–	3.2	–
Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) Operation (Typical/Max @ TCASE = 25 °C/70 °C)
TEC Current	–	0.23 A	1.5 A	–	0.55 A	1.5 A
TEC Voltage	–	0.5 V	4 V	–	0.70 V	4.0 V
Thermistor Resistancef	–	10 kΩ	–	–	10 kΩ	–
Absolute Maximum Ratingsg
Operating Current	–	–	–	–	–	950 mA
Optical Output Power, CW	–	–	–	–	–	150 mW
Chip Temperature (TEC)	–	–	–	10 °C	–	30 °C
Case Temperature	–	–	–	0 °C	–	70 °C
Fiber Specifications
Type (PM Fiber)	Corning PMF-1550			Corning PM15-U40A
Mode Field Diameter	–			10.5 ± 0.5 µm @ 1550 nm
Numerical Aperture	–			0.125
Length	1.5 ± 0.1 m			1.5 m
Connector	FC/APC, Key Aligned to Slow Axis

• T_CHIP = 25 °C; T_CASE = 0 – 70 °C
• At I_OP
• At 1550 nm
• For a rectangular on/off pulse, the max average output power for a pulse input signal is defined as: P_PULSE-MAX ≈ P_CW-MAX + 10 × log(D), where P_PULSE-MAX is the maximum average output power for a pulsed input signal, P_CW-MAX is the maximum output power for a CW input signal, and D is the duty cycle ratio of the pulsed signal.
• Across Bandwidth
• See Figure 2.1 for the relation between the thermistor temperature and resistance.
• Absolute maximum rating specifications should never be exceeded. Operating at or beyond these conditions can permanently damage the amplifier.

Polarization-Independent Optical Shutter/Switch

Item	SOA1013SXS
Parameter	Min	Typical	Max
Operating Current	–	500 mA	600 mA
Operating Wavelength	1528 nm	–	1562 nm
Optical Isolation (PIN/POUT) @ 0 mA and 1550 nm	42 dB	–	–
Extinction Ratio (On/Off @ PIN = -20 dBm and 1550 nm)	–	60 dB	–
Switching Speed	–	1 ns	–
Max Output Power for CW Input Signal	–	17 dBm	–
Max Output Power for Modulated Input Signal	–	9 dBm	–
Saturation Output Power (@ -3 dB)	12 dBm	14 dBm	–
Noise Figure	–	8.0 dB	9.5 dB
Small Signal Gain Across Bandwidth (@ PIN = -20 dBm)	10 dB	13 dB	–
Polarization Dependent Gain	–	1 dB	1.8 dB
Forward Voltage	–	1.6 V	1.8 V
Chip Length	–	1.5 mm	–
Waveguide Refractive Index	–	3.2	–
Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) Operation (Typical/Max @ TCASE = 25 °C/70 °C)
TEC Current	–	0.23 A	1.5 A
TEC Voltage	–	0.5 V	4 V
Thermistor Resistancea	–	10 kΩ	–
Fiber Specifications
Type (SM Fiber)	SMF-28-J9
Length	1.5 ± 0.1 m
Connector	FC/APC

• See Figure 2.1 for the relation between the thermistor temperature and resistance.

Figure 2.1  Calculated Thermistor Resistance

This is plotted using the Steinhart-Hart equation,

where A = 1.129241 x 10^-3, B = 2.341077 x 10^-4, and C = 8.775468 x 10^-8.

Note: All plots illustrate typical performance, and individual units may have slightly different performance, within the parameters outlined on the Specs tab.

BOA1004PXS Graphs

Typical gain versus output power plot for the BOA1004PXS optical switch/shutter at 600 mA.	Typical ASE spectrum plot for the BOA1004PXS optical switch/shutter at 600 mA.

BOA1550PXS Graphs

Typical ASE spectrum plot for the BOA1550PXS optical switch/shutter at 900 mA.	Typical ripple spectrum plot for the BOA1550PXS optical switch/shutter at 900 mA.	Typical gain versus output power plot for the BOA1550PXS optical switch/shutter at 900 mA.

Typical ASE LIV plot for the BOA1550PXS optical switch/shutter.	Typical gain versus wavelength plot for the BOA1550PXS optical switch/shutter at 900 mA.

SOA1013SXS Graphs

Typical gain versus power plot for the SOA1013SXS optical switch/shutter at 500 mA.	Typical gain versus wavelength plot for the SOA1013SXS optical switch/shutter at 500 mA.