Helping engineers accelerate the characterization of next-generation optical devices
ANRITSU CORPORATION launches the AH15203A/B, a 140 Gbaud broadband linear amplifier with integrated polarizer. Designed for engineers developing next-generation optical transmission devices, this new amplifier simplifies the characterization of high-speed devices by providing the high-power, wideband signal conditioning needed for the era of more than 1 Tb.
With a wide frequency response of 200 kHz to 125 GHz (-6 dB bandwidth), the AH15203A/B amplifies PAM4 signals up to 140 Gbaud with a maximum output of 2,0 Vpp. Its gain of +15,0 dB and low jitter of up to 300 fs help engineers maintain signal fidelity, compensate for transmission path losses, and perform more reliable waveform evaluation during the development of high-speed optical devices.
The AH15203A/B can amplify 140 Gbaud PAM4 signals from DSPs and other signal sources, while also directly controlling optical devices that require high-amplitude compensation signals, such as modulators. This makes it ideal for characterizing optical modulators used in next-generation 800 GbE and 1,6 TbE coherent digital transmission systems, as well as IM-DD optical modulators widely used in optical communications. For engineers, this provides a practical way to validate the performance of demanding devices with greater confidence and efficiency.
By combining wide bandwidth, high output power, low jitter, and an integrated bias divider in a compact drive amplifier, Anritsu helps its customers reduce testing complexity, improve confidence in measurement results, and accelerate the deployment of a faster, more reliable network and data center infrastructure.
Visitors to ECOC 2026, which will take place from September 21-23 in Malaga, Spain, will be able to see the AH15203A/B demonstration and talk to Anritsu experts at booth 2075.
Development background
The growth of AI, machine learning, and cloud service traffic is driving data center and network operators to increase capacity while maintaining signal quality, energy efficiency, and operational reliability.
To support these requirements, IEEE 802.3dj is driving standardization for 200 Gbps/lane IM-DD modulation and coherent digital configurations, including 800GBASE-LR1 (10 km), 800GBASE-ER1-20 (20 km), and 800GBASE-ER1 (40 km). In parallel, the IEEE 802.3ds standardization is progressing toward optical links operating at 200 Gbps per wavelength for short-range communications under 30 m. As speeds increase, signal attenuation becomes more complex, creating a clear need for high-performance linear controllers with integrated biasing that can faithfully amplify PAM signals and directly control EML, DML, and VCSEL devices during development and validation.
Product Outline
The AH15203A/B high-performance linear amplifier supports the evaluation of 140 Gbaud PAM4 signals at up to 2,0 Vpp. With a 125 GHz bandwidth and an integrated bias divider, it enables engineers to generate high-speed, high-quality control signals without increasing setup complexity. Its low power consumption of 1,5 W also contributes to more efficient test environments, helping customers manage performance, space, and power consumption in advanced optical device characterization.
A dedicated power supply further reduces the risk of improper power management, promoting safer operation and greater confidence when integrating the amplifier into high-frequency test setups.
Target markets: Manufacturers of high-speed optical and electrical devices; manufacturers of optical signal measurement and testing instruments.
Applications: Characterization of high-speed optical devices up to 140 Gbaud.
Technical Terms
*1
Linear amplifier: An amplifier that amplifies the input signal by a fixed ratio and produces a fixed output. Linear amplifiers are essential for controlling devices, such as optical modulators, used in optical communication networks.
*2 Bias Tee
A component that superimposes and supplies, or extracts, DC voltage or current on the RF signal line.
*3 PAM4
PAM stands for Pulse Amplitude Modulation scheme, which increases transmission capacity by modulating amplitude. PAM4 uses four amplitude levels (00, 01, 10, 11) to encode two bits per symbol.
*4
Gain characteristics that describe the relationship between the frequency of the input signal and the corresponding output amplification ratio.
*5
Jitter is a measure of the temporal fluctuation (jitter) in a digital signal. Excessive jitter causes incorrect recovery of digital signal values, resulting in bit errors.
*6 DSP
Abbreviation for Digital Signal Processor: microprocessor optimized for the processing of digital signals.
*7 Digital coherent transmission scheme
It encodes information using the phase and polarization of light. Its low signal degradation makes it ideal for high-capacity, long-distance optical transmission.
*8 IM-DD
Abbreviation for Intensity Modulation – Direct Detection. Transmission scheme that encodes information by modulating the intensity of light and recovers it at the receiver by direct detection.
