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Estimating Minimum Power for a Power Meter and Detector System

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Estimating Minimum Power for a Power Meter and Detector System

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One of the most common questions received regarding power meters and low power detectors is “What is the lowest power reading resolvable by my power meter?” In most cases, the information that is actually being sought is the lowest resolvable power of a power meter and detector system. In Tech Note #4 the question of the lowest reading obtainable by a power meter and how to calculate it is discussed. In most cases the power meter is capable of displaying or resolving a much lower measurement than can be obtained with the detector head being used. Now we will consider the combined system of detector and power meter. In order to perform the calculation you must first determine the NEP (Noise Equivalent Power) of the detector head. This value is usually given in W/ Hz , and has been specified for you. You can find the NEP on the specification page of the manual supplied with your detector, in the Newport on-line or paper catalog, or in the table provided at the end of this note. You will also need to determine the bandwidth of the power meter in its lowest range setting. Again, this information can be found in the specifications section of the manual for the power meter and is often given in terms of the type of measurement to be made, eg. DC Continuous, Peak to Peak, or Pulsed. Power meter manuals are available on-line or by request from an Applications Engineer.

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