Agilent Technologies Inc. has introduced a field-portable polarization mode dispersion/differential group delay analyzer.

The Agilent N3909A is designed to bring laboratory quality accuracy and reliability to field-testing applications. The analyzer utilizes a new implementation of the Jones Matrix Eigenanalysis method, fully compliant with industry standard TIA-455-122-A, which reduces troubleshooting time and network downtime.

The N3909A measures polarization mode dispersion (PMD), giving the user valuable information about an optical fiber's useable bandwidth. Decisions on bandwidth potential can now be based on far more reliable information, enabling service providers to make the best use of their installed fiber plant.

This new implementation of the Jones Matrix Eigenanalysis method makes this analyzer suitable for field use with a high robustness against fiber movement. Unlike existing field PMD measurement equipment, the Agilent PMD/DGD analyzer is designed to give reliable results on the market when measuring over optical amplifiers. By providing critical DGD at the same time, network troubleshooting is now possible whenever PMD might be involved. By knowing the DGD behavior, faults can be quickly and accurately identified and isolated, reducing the time required to fix network problems.

"This important innovation in using Jones Matrix Eigenanalysis in a field-portable analyzer makes DGD measurements practical for I&M applications," says Werner Berkel, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Photonic Measurement Division. "For the first time our customers can see the DGD distribution on their optical links in real-world testing over optical amplifiers."

The N3909A is part of the modular network tester N3900A product series. It is available with a full range of OTDR modules, a high-end optical spectrum analyzer module and a chromatic dispersion analyzer module.

Agilent Technologies is based in Palo Alto, CA. For more information visit www.agilent.com.