Santec Sets a New Standard in Tunable Lasers with the TSL-580

Santec LIS Corporation (Komaki, Aichi, Japan; hereinafter “Santec LIS”) announces the launch of its latest product, the TSL-570 Type U, an Ultra High-Power Tunable Laser designed to deliver significantly enhanced optical output for Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and advanced silicon photonics applications.

The markets for CPO and silicon photonics are expected to see strong growth, driven primarily by the rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers and high-performance computing architectures. CPO systems inherently require optical signal splitting across multiple waveguides, resulting in substantial splitting, coupling, and waveguide losses. These challenges are driving increased demand for high-power, wavelength-tunable laser sources capable of supporting accurate and repeatable device characterization.
By optimizing the laser cavity design and control circuitry, Santec LIS has achieved more than three times the optical output of previous TSL-570 models. With this capability, the TSL-570 Type U serves as an ideal laser source for CPO and silicon photonics evaluation, supporting a broad range of use cases from research and development to volume manufacturing test environments.

santec LIS Corporation (Komaki, Aichi, Japan) announces the launch of its latest product, the 8th-generation high-speed tunable laser, the “TSL‑580” featuring enhanced performance, functionality, and quality. Since commercializing the world’s first external-cavity tunable laser employing a semiconductor laser for single longitudinal mode operation in the optical communications band in 1987, we have leveraged more than 35 years of experience and proven expertise to continuously develop and manufacture products that combine high performance with high quality.

In recent years, applications of tunable lasers have rapidly expanded beyond optical communications to include silicon photonics, quantum optics, and advanced sensing technologies. As a result, there is growing demand for higher output power and more precise wavelength control. To address these growing requirements, santec has redesigned the laser cavity and control circuitry, resulting in the development of the TSL-580 tunable laser, which delivers enhanced performance, stability, and measurement reliability.

As a core instrument supporting the advancement of optical technologies, the TSL-580 provides a powerful platform for applications ranging from next-generation photonic device evaluation and advanced research to high-volume manufacturing test environment.

Key Features:
1. High Output Power Supports All Optical Devices
Through optimization of the laser cavity, the TSL‑580 achieves a peak optical output power exceeding +15 dBm (30 mW) in continuous-wave (CW) operation, surpassing that of previous models. This high output power enables stable measurement and evaluation even in applications where optical power is often insufficient, such as the characterization of optical devices with high insertion loss and surface grating coupling in silicon photonics.
2. Narrow Linewidth for High-Precision Measurements
With a newly redesigned control circuit, the TSL‑580 achieves a narrow linewidth of 20 kHz. This significantly reduces the impact of noise in measurements within extremely small spectral regions, enabling high-resolution observation for applications such as quantum optics and high-precision sensing.
3. Excellent Wavelength Sweep Linearity
By optimizing the drive system, wavelength sweep linearity has been improved to approximately twice that of previous models. This enhancement provides more stable wavelength sweeping and higher data accuracy in applications including spectroscopic analysis and sensing.

The TSL-580 is scheduled to be available for order in April 2026.

Exhibition Information:
The TSL-580 will be exhibited at OFC 2026, to be held in Los Angeles, USA, starting March 17, 2026.
Booth: #1029