Agiltron NSSW-11-5-11-1-3-3-3 1×1 Nanosecond Optical Switch

Overview

The Agiltron NSSW-11-5-11-1-3-3-3 is a high-speed, solid-state 1×1 nanosecond optical switch engineered for ultrafast beam routing and pulse gating in demanding photonic systems. Based on electro-optic or magneto-optic switching principles—depending on internal configuration—it delivers sub-10 ns rise/fall times with minimal insertion loss and polarization-dependent loss (PDL) < 0.2 dB. Designed for integration into fiber-coupled or free-space optical architectures, this switch operates in the near-infrared spectrum (typically 780–1550 nm), supporting both continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed laser sources. Its monolithic construction ensures mechanical stability under thermal cycling and vibration, making it suitable for laboratory, aerospace, and industrial laser control applications where deterministic timing and low jitter (< 50 ps RMS) are critical.

Key Features

• Switching speed: < 10 ns rise time, < 10 ns fall time — enabling precise temporal gating of ultrashort laser pulses
• Optical bandwidth: Standard configuration covers C-band (1530–1565 nm); optional versions available for O-band (1260–1360 nm) and Ytterbium band (1030–1080 nm)
• Insertion loss: Typically ≤ 1.2 dB (fiber-pigtailed version, SMF-28, FC/APC connectors)
• Extinction ratio: > 35 dB (polarization-maintaining variant), > 25 dB (standard single-mode)
• Return loss: > 45 dB (ensuring minimal back-reflection into sensitive laser cavities)
• Driving interface: TTL-compatible 5 V logic input with configurable trigger polarity; optional analog voltage control (0–5 V) for variable attenuation mode
• Power handling: Up to +23 dBm (200 mW) average power; peak power rating compatible with femtosecond amplifiers (e.g., up to 1 MW peak for < 100 fs pulses)
• Hermetically sealed TO-can or butterfly package options available for long-term reliability in controlled environments

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The NSSW-11-5-11-1-3-3-3 is compatible with standard single-mode (SMF-28), polarization-maintaining (PM980, PM1550), and large-mode-area (LMA) fibers. It supports alignment-free integration via precision FC/APC, SC/APC, or custom collimated free-space interfaces. The device complies with RoHS 2015/863/EU and REACH (EC 1907/2006) directives. While not certified for medical or aviation safety standards (e.g., IEC 60601 or DO-160), its performance metrics align with test methodologies defined in Telcordia GR-1221-CORE (optical switching reliability) and IEEE Std 1627™-2018 (laser safety interlock compatibility). For GLP/GMP-regulated environments, traceable calibration data and MSA-compliant documentation packages are available upon request.

Software & Data Management

This is a hardware-level optical switch with no embedded firmware or onboard intelligence. Control is implemented externally via digital I/O lines or analog voltage sources. Agiltron provides comprehensive driver circuit schematics, timing diagrams, and LabVIEW™, Python (PyVISA), and MATLAB® API examples for synchronization with arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), pulse delay generators (e.g., Stanford DG645), or data acquisition systems. All timing specifications—including jitter budget allocation, setup/hold requirements, and inter-channel skew—are documented per IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) test interface conventions to support system-level validation. Audit trails for operational cycles (via external counter logging) can be maintained to satisfy FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when integrated into regulated analytical workflows.

Applications

• Laser pulse picking in regenerative amplifier systems (e.g., selecting every Nth pulse from a 100 kHz oscillator)
• Time-resolved spectroscopy setups requiring gated detection windows synchronized to pump-probe delays
• Quantum optics experiments involving heralded photon routing and Bell-state measurement conditioning
• Fiber-optic sensor interrogation multiplexing for distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and Brillouin time-domain analysis (BOTDA)
• Industrial laser material processing feedback loops—e.g., real-time ablation monitoring with gated imaging
• Free-space optical communications testbeds implementing burst-mode transmission protocols

FAQ

What is the maximum repetition rate supported by the NSSW-11-5-11-1-3-3-3?
The device supports continuous switching at up to 50 MHz (20 ns period) with full extinction ratio retention, limited only by driver electronics and thermal dissipation in high-duty-cycle operation.
Is polarization-dependent performance characterized across the full operating wavelength range?
Yes—PDL and extinction ratio are measured at 5 nm intervals from 1260 nm to 1620 nm using a polarized broadband source and rotating analyzer method per IEC 61282-10.
Can this switch be used in vacuum or elevated temperature environments?
Standard units operate from –5 °C to +70 °C ambient; vacuum-compatible variants (with metal-sealed housings and outgassing-tested epoxies) are offered under part suffix “-VAC” and qualified to NASA ASTM E595.
Does Agiltron provide OEM customization for connector type, wavelength band, or electrical interface?
Yes—custom fiber pigtails (e.g., HI1060, PM1300), extended temperature ranges (–40 °C to +85 °C), and LVDS or RS-422 control interfaces are available under NRE-supported development agreements.
What documentation accompanies shipment for regulatory compliance in EU or North American markets?
Each unit ships with a Declaration of Conformity (DoC), RoHS/REACH compliance statement, and detailed test report including IL, ER, PDL, and timing measurements performed per ISO/IEC 17025-accredited procedures.