Lambda Scan Applications The Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver
Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition 237
How to Perform a Lambda Scan Application
Figure 19 Lambda Scan Operation Setup

The Prepare Lambda Sca n Function

The Prepare Lambda Scan (hp816x_prepareLambdaScan) function
prepares a Lambda Scan operation.
The Prepare Lambda Scan (hp816x_prepareLambdaScan) function must
be called before a Lambda Scan operation is executed. Use the return
values of this function (Number of Datapoi nts and Number of Power
Arrays) to allocate arrays for the Execute Lambda Sca n
(hp816x_executeLambdaScan) function.
To obtain a higher precision, the Tunable Laser Source is set 1 nm before
the Start Wavelength, this means, you have to choose a Start Wavelength
1 nm greater than the minimum possible wavelength. Also, the wavelength
sweep is actually started 90 pm before the Start Wavelength and ends 90
pm after the Stop Wavelength, this means, you have to choos e a Stop
Wavelength 90 pm less than the maximu m possible wavelength.
Triggers coordinate the Tunable Laser module with all Power Meters. The
function sets for the lowest possible avera ging time available for the
installed Power Meters and, then, sets the highest possible sweep speed
for the selected Tunable Las er module sweep.
If one of the following circumstance s occurs, the "parameter mismatch"
error will be returned:
1If one Power Meter is out of the specification at 1550 nm , the error
"powermeter wavelength does not span 15 50nm" will be returned. For
example, the HP 81530A Power Sensor and the HP 81520A Optical Head
are out of s pecifica tion at 1 550 nm. R emove th e Power Meter tha t is out
of specification at 1550 nm from the mainframe.