External Cavity Lasers
Multimode lasers such the Fabry-Perot lasers and Broad Gain Illuminators can be used in an External Cavity to provide single-mode operation with a broad tunability. You can read more here about Alpes’ External Cavity Laser Kit (ECLK).
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The graph on the left showcases the range covered by different chips that can be used in the ECLK system in dotted lines and the direct emission range in full lines. The bottom row shows a series of chips that can be used to cover the entire range, and over these other chips may be used to reach a particular range better. The following table lists the specific performance of the Broad Gain lasers shown in pulsed mode (expect BG-3.2-3.6 which operates CW). Only the tuning range and minimum power over the tuning range are part of the specification; the typical tuning curve is shown as an example and each laser will have a different tuning curve. The average power will vary over the tuning range and will will exceed the minimum value at its optimal point by a large amount but this maximum value can vary from laser to laser.
| Laser | Tuning from | Tuning to | Min. Power over range | Typical tuning curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New! ICL BG-3.2-3.6 | <2820 cm-1 | >3070 cm-1 | >2 mW |  |
BG-4.4-5.2 | <1970 cm-1 | >2230 cm-1 | >0.3 mW |  |
BG-5.1-6.1 | <1660 cm-1 | >1930 cm-1 | >5 mW |  |
BG-5.5-6.2 | <1635 cm-1 | >1780 cm-1 | >7mW |  |
BG-6.1-7.4 | <1375 cm-1 | >1615 cm-1 | >0.8mW |  |
BG-6.2-7.4 | <1380 cm-1 | >1595 cm-1 | >0.1mW |  |
BG-7-8.8 | <1160 cm-1 | >1395 cm-1 | >1.2mW |  |
BG-7.4-9.7 | <1060 cm-1 | >1320 cm-1 | >2.5mW |  |
BG-7.3-10.2 | <1010 cm-1 | >1345 cm-1 | >8mW |  |
BG-9.6-12.5 | <830 cm-1 | >1015 cm-1 | >0.1mW |  |
BG-9.7-13.1 | <795 cm-1 | >1000 cm-1 | >0.25mW |  |
BG-10.8-13.7 | <760 cm-1 | >900 cm-1 | >0.25mW |  |
Click on the pictures for larger version
The emitted light is in TM polarization for QCL-based cavities and in TE polarization for ICL-based cavities.
Furthermore, standard Fabry-Perot lasers with a narrower gain can also be compatible with the ECLK. Some of these lasers can also be available in CW mode while the broad gain lasers are only available in pulsed mode. You can see here a small subset of the performances available. For performances at other wavelengths, write to us to request testing!
| Laser | Tuning from | Tuning to | Min. Power over range | Typical tuning curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
P-FP-4.5 | <2145 cm-1 | >2280 cm-1 | >4 mW |  |
CW-FP-4.5 | <2160 cm-1 | >2210 cm-1 | >4 mW |  |
CW-FP-6.0 | <1640 cm-1 | >1670 cm-1 | >30 mW |  |
P-FP-6.3 | <1545 cm-1 | >1645 cm-1 | >4 mW |  |
CW-FP-6.3 | <1545 cm-1 | >1600 cm-1 | >4 mW |  |
P-FP-7.4 | <1320 cm-1 | >1410 cm-1 | >4 mW |  |
CW-FP-7.4 | <1320 cm-1 | >1380 cm-1 | >4 mW |  |
P-FP-9.1 | <1085 cm-1 | >1125 cm-1 | >3 mW |  |
CW-FP-9.1 | <1085 cm-1 | >1105 cm-1 | >3 mW |  |