Agilent
11896 A Polarization Controller
Provisional entry — research in progress
This page was generated automatically from cited public sources and hasn't completed the full research pass yet. Every specification shown carries its source; more detail is added as research completes.
The Agilent 11896 A Polarization Controller is a motorized polarization controller. The Agilent 11896 A Polarization Controller adjusts polarization and not power. The Agilent 11896 A Polarization Controller covers 980 nm and 1250 to 1640 nm.[1][2]
How it works
The Agilent 11896A uses a fiber-loop design in which single-mode fiber is bent into four quarter-wave fiber coils. Each coil is rotated by an individual stepper motor. Bending the fiber induces a linear birefringence through the stress-optic effect, and rotating the coils changes the decomposition of the input light into the fast and slow axes, thereby transforming the polarization state.[3]
In automatic mode the fiber coils are rotated back and forth at non-harmonically related speeds to produce a pseudo-random succession of all states of polarization across the Poincaré sphere. The rotation rate is adjustable over a range of settings, and a full 360° rotation of a coil takes less than 0.5 seconds.[1][3]
Applications
Additional applications include polarization-dependent gain measurements of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, optical waveguide TE/TM mode testing, and simulating depolarized signals by rapid polarization scanning. The controller can also be used for polarization synthesis when combined with a built-in linear polarizer (as in the companion model 8169A).[1]
What do the numbers mean?
Power & electrical1
Optics & imaging3
Dimensions & facilities2
Configuration & options8
Vintage & configurations
What does it need to run?
Site utility requirements, footprint, and infrastructure needed to install and operate this tool. Sourced from public records.
- Power requirements47 to 63 Hz; 90 to 250 Vrms; 60 VA max[1]
Where are the manuals?
Generated from public-source data on file. Enter your email to access — nothing is published; details are routed privately.
Not publicly documented
Field notes
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Frequently asked questions
What is the operating wavelength range of the Agilent 11896A?
The 11896A operates at 980 nm and from 1250 to 1640 nm.[1][5]
What is the insertion loss variation of the 11896A?
The insertion loss variation with polarization transformation is ±0.002 dB.[1][3]
How fast does the 11896A rotate its fiber coils?
How many fiber coils does the 11896A contain?
The 11896A contains four quarter-wave fiber coils, each rotated by an individual stepper motor.[3]
Not publicly documented
The following facts about the 11896 A Polarization Controller are absent from this record as of this revision. First-hand knowledge or a citation closes a gap; every submission is reviewed before publication.
No publicly documented variants, configuration options, or revision breakpoints of the 11896 A Polarization Controller are on record.
Answerable by: an OEM product catalog or an engineer who ordered or specified the tool
The control-system platform and OS era of the 11896 A Polarization Controller are not on record.
Answerable by: an engineer who operated it or OEM installation records
No publicly documented failure modes or field errata for the 11896 A Polarization Controller are on record.
Answerable by: a field service engineer, process engineer, or maintenance technician
The process node or technology generation of the 11896 A Polarization Controller is not on record.
Answerable by: an OEM datasheet or a fab qualification report
No publicly documented compatible parts, consumables, or accessories for the 11896 A Polarization Controller are on record.
Answerable by: an OEM parts catalog or a service engineer
No research found yet — worked with this tool? Share what you know.
Sources & citations
Sources (5)Every fact above is drawn from these public sources
- [1]simbol.ca — simbol.casimbol.ca
- [2]Buy Agilent 11896A Polarization Controller — assetrelay.comassetrelay.com
- [3]simbol.ca — simbol.casimbol.ca
- [4]Equipment inventory listing
- [5]Buy HP Agilent (Keysight) 11896A Polarization Controller — assetrelay.comassetrelay.com
Last updated Aug 20, 2026.
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