HP 8169A User manual

User's Guide
HP 8169A Polarization Controller
SERIAL NUMBERS
This guide applies to all instruments.
ABCDE
HP Part No. 08169-91011
Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany
First Edition
E0396

Notices
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Hewlett-Packard GmbH.
c
 Copyright 1993 by:
Hewlett-Packard GmbH
Herrenberger Str. 130
71034 Boeblingen
Federal Republic of Germany
Subject Matter
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for errors contained herein or for
incidental or consequential damages
in connection with the furnishing,
performance, or use of this material.
Printing History
New editions are complete revisions
of the guide reecting alterations in
the functionality of the instrument.
Updates are occasionally made to
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date on the title page changes when
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Control Serial Number: First Edition
applies directly to all instruments.
Warranty
This Hewlett-Packard instrument
product is warranted against defects
in material and workmanship for a
period of one year from date of
shipment. During the warranty
period, HP will, at its option, either
repair or replace products that prove
to be defective.
For warranty service or repair, this
product must be returned to a service
facility designated by HP. Buyer shall
prepay shipping charges to HP and
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return the product to Buyer.
However, Buyer shall pay all shipping
charges, duties, and taxes for
products returned to HP from
another country.
HP warrants that its software and
rmware designated by HP for use
with an instrument will execute its
programming instructions when
properly installed on that instrument.
HP does not warrant that the
operation of the instrument,
software, or rmware will be
uninterrupted or error free.
Limitation of Warranty
The foregoing warranty shall not
apply to defects resulting from
improper or inadequate maintenance
by Buyer, Buyer-supplied software or
interfacing, unauthorized
modication or misuse, operation
outside of the environmental
specications for the product, or
improper site preparation or
maintenance.
No other warranty is expressed or
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disclaims the implied warranties of
Merchantability and Fitness for a
Particular Purpose.
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Product maintenance agreements
and other customer assistance
agreements are available for
Hewlett-Packard products.For any
assistance contact your nearest
Hewlett-Packard Sales and Service
Oce.
Certication
Hewlett-Packard Company certies
that this product met its published
specications at the time of
shipment from the factory.
Hewlett-Packard further certies
that its calibration measurements
are traceable to the United States
National Institute of Standards and
Technology, NIST (formerly the
United States National Bureau of
Standards, NBS) to the extent
allowed by the Institutes's
calibration facility, and to the
calibration facilities of other
International Standards Organization
members.
ISO 9001 Certication
Produced to ISO 9001 international
quality system standard as part of
our objective of continually
increasing customer satisfaction
through improved process control.
First Edition : 1st September 1994 : 08169-91011 : E0994
: 1st March 1996 : 08169-91011 : E0396

Safety Summary
The following general safety precautions must be observed during all phases
of operation, service, and repair of this instrument. Failure to comply with
these precautions or with specic warnings elsewhere in this manual violates
safety standards of design, manufacture
, and intended use of the instrument.
Hewlett-Packard Company assumes no liability for the customer's failure to
comply with these requirements.
General This is a Safety Class 1 instrument (provided with terminal for
protective earthing) and has been manufactured and tested according to
international safety standards.
Operation - Before applying power Comply with the installation section.
Additionally, the following shall be observed:
Do not remove instrument covers when operating.
Before the instrument is switched on, all protective earth terminals
, extension
cords, auto-transformers and devices connected to it should be connected to a
protective earth via a ground socket. Any interruption of the protective earth
grounding will cause a potential shock hazard that could result in serious
personal injury.
Whenever it is likely that the protection has been impaired, the instrument
must be made inoperative and be secured against any unintended operation.
Make sure that only fuses with the required rated current and of the specied
type (normal blow, time delay, etc.) are used for replacement. The use of
repaired fuses and the short-circuiting of fuseholders must be avoided.
Adjustments described in the manual are performed with power supplied to
the instrument while protective covers are removed. Be aware that energy at
many points may, if contacted, result in personal injury.
Any adjustments, maintenance, and repair of the opened instrument under
voltage should be avoided as much as possible, and when unavoidable, should
be carried out only by a skilled person who is aware of the hazard involved.
Do not attempt internal service or adjustment unless another person, capable
of rendering rst aid and resuscitation is present. Do not replace components
with power cable connected.
Do not operate the instrument in the presence of ammable gases or fumes.
Operation of any electrical instrument in such an enviroment constitutes a
denite safety hazard.
Do not install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized modication to
the instrument.
Be aware that capacitors inside the instrument may still be charged even if
the instrument has been disconnected from its source of supply.
iv

Safety Symbols
The apparatus will be marked with this symbol when it is
necessary for the user to refer to the instruction manual in
order to protect the apparatus against damage.
Caution, risk of electric shock.
Frame or chassis terminal.
Protective conductor terminal.
Hazardous laser radiation.
Warning
The WARNING sign denotes a hazard. It calls attention to
a procedure, practice or the like, which, if not correctly
performed or adhered to, could result in injury or loss of
life. Do not proceed beyond a WARNING sign until the
indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
Caution
The CAUTION sign denotes a hazard. It calls attention to
an operating procedure, practice or the like, which, if not
correctly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to
or destruction of part or all of the equipment. Do not proceed
beyond a CAUTION sign until the indicated conditions are fully
understood and met.
v

Contents
1. Getting Started
The Basic Operating Principle ................. 1-1
Using the Polarization Controller for Polarization Analysis ... 1-2
Editing ............................ 1-3
Editing Using the Entry Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Editing Using the Modify Keys and Knob ........... 1-3
Resetting Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
2. Setting a State of Polarization
Setting up the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Setting the Position of the Polarizing Filter .......... 2-1
Setting the State of Polarization ................ 2-3
Positioning the  /4 and  /2 Retarder Plates .......... 2-4
Using the Circle Mode .................... 2-4
Example: Setting the Optimum Transmission SoP .. .. .. 2-4
Set the Polarizing Filter ................. 2-5
Setting the Worst Case Transmission SoP .. .. .. .. . 2-6
Setting the Optimum Transmission SoP ...... .. .. 2-7
3. Scanning the Poincare Sphere
Setting up the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Setting Up and Executing a Scan ................ 3-1
Example: Measuring the Response to a \Depolarized" Signal .. 3-2
Set the Polarizing Filter .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-3
Setting Up the Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Running the Scan .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. 3-4
Example: Measuring a Polarization Dependent Loss ...... 3-5
Set the Polarizing Filter .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-6
Setting Up the Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Running the Scan .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. 3-7
Analyzing the Results .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 3-7
Contents-1

4. Other Front Panel Functions
Setting the HP-IB Address .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 4-1
Storing or Recalling Instrument Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storing a Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Recalling a Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Resetting the Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
5. Programming the Polarization Controller
HP-IB Interface ........................ 5-1
Setting the HP-IB Address .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 5-3
Returning the Instrument to Local Control ........... 5-3
How the Polarization Controller Receives and Transmits Messages 5-3
How the Input Queue Works ................. 5-3
Clearing the Input Queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
The Output Queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
The Error Queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Some Notes about Programming and Syntax Diagram Conventions 5-4
Short Form and Long Form.................. 5-5
Command and Query Syntax ................. 5-5
6. Remote Commands
Command Summary ...................... 6-2
The Common Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Common Status Information .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6-5
SRQ, The Service Request .... .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6-6
*CLS .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-7
*ESE ............................ 6-7
*ESE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
*ESR? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
*IDN? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
*OPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
*OPC? .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . 6-10
*RCL ............................ 6-10
*RST .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-11
*SAV ............................ 6-11
*SRE .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-12
*SRE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12
*STB? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13
*TST? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13
*WAI .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-14
Switching On and O the Instrument Display .. .. .. .. .. 6-15
Contents-2

:DISPlay:ENABle ...................... 6-15
:DISPlay:ENABle? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-15
Positioning the Polarizing Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16
[:INPut]:POSition:POLarizer .... .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6-16
[:INPut]:POSition:POLarizer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16
Setting the State of Polarization ................ 6-17
[:INPut]:CIRCle:EPSilonb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-17
[:INPut]:CIRCle:EPSilonb? ................. 6-17
[:INPut]:CIRCle:THETap ................... 6-18
[:INPut]:CIRCle:THETap?.................. 6-18
[:INPut]:POSition:HALF ................... 6-19
[:INPut]:POSition:HALF? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19
[:INPut]:POSition:QUARter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19
[:INPut]:POSition:QUARter? ................ 6-20
Scanning the Sphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-21
[:INPut]:PSPHere:RATE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6-21
[:INPut]:PSPHere:RATE?.................. 6-21
:INITiate[:IMMediate] .................... 6-21
:ABORt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-21
STATus Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-23
Setting Up the STATus Registers .... .. .. .. .. .. . 6-24
:STATus:PRESet ...................... 6-24
:STATus:OPERation:NTRansition .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-25
:STATus:OPERation:NTRansition? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-25
:STATus:OPERation:PTRansition .............. 6-25
:STATus:OPERation:PTRansition? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-25
:STATus:OPERation:ENABle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-25
:STATus:OPERation:ENABle? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-26
:STATus:QUEStionable:NTRansition . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-27
:STATus:QUEStionable:NTRansition? ........... 6-27
:STATus:QUEStionable:PTRansition .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6-27
:STATus:QUEStionable:PTRansition? .. .. .. .. .. . 6-27
:STATus:QUEStionable:ENABle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-27
:STATus:QUEStionable:ENABle? .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6-28
Checking the Status ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 6-29
:STATus:OPERation:CONDition? .............. 6-29
:STATus:OPERation[:EVENt]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-29
:STATus:QUEStionable:CONDition? ............. 6-30
:STATus:QUEStionable[:EVENt]? .............. 6-30
SYSTem Commands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-31
:SYSTem:ERRor? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-31
Contents-3

:SYSTem:VERSion? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-31
7. Programming Examples
Example 1 - Checking Communication ............. 7-2
Example 2 - Status Registers and Queues ............ 7-3
Example 3 - Finding the Optimum Transmission SoP . . . . . . . 7-7
Example 4 - Finding the Polarization Dependence ........ 7-11
A. Installation
Safety Considerations ..................... A-1
Initial Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
AC Line Power Supply Requirements .............. A-2
Line Power Cable ...................... A-2
Replacing the Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Replacing the Battery .................... A-5
Operating and Storage Environment .............. A-5
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Humidity .......................... A-6
Altitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Installation Category and Pollution Degree .......... A-6
Instrument Positioning and Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Switching on the Polarization Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Optical Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Trigger Input and Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
HP-IB Interface ........................ A-8
Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
HP-IB Logic Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
Claims and Repackaging .................... A-10
Return Shipments to HP ................... A-10
B. Accessories
Instrument and Options .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. B-1
HP-IB Cables and Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Connector Interfaces and Other Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Option 021, Straight Contact Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Option 022, Angled Contact Connector ............ B-3
Contents-4