Error function analysis of optical components

A method of error analysis testing for optical components, comprising:

• generating a test signal at a plurality of selected optical power levels;
• outputting the test signal to an optical component;
• receiving a version of the test signal from the optical component;
• determining errors in the received version of the test signal at the plurality of selected optical power levels;
• setting data points of a function associated with an error rate at each of the selected optical power levels and determining a relationship between the determined errors and the set data points;
• and
• providing indication of the relationship between the determined errors with reference to the set data points,
• wherein the function is defined as
• f(BER)=log10({square root}{square root over (2)}erfc−1(2·BER)),
• wherein BER is bit error rate and erfc−1 is an inverse complementary error function.

A portable error analysis tester for optical components, comprising:

• a housing;
• an optical transmitter that generates a test signal at a plurality of selected optical power levels, the test signal being output to an optical component under test;
• an optical receiver that receives a version of the test signal from the optical component and determines errors in the received test signal at the plurality of selected optical power levels;
• and
• a controller that sets data points of a function associated with an error rate at each of the selected optical power levels and determines a relationship between the determined errors and the set data points.