TOPTICA PHOTONICS AG - High-end laser systems for your scientific or industrial application

The TeraSpeed serves applications in quality control and process monitoring that require no spectral information, but call for terahertz intensity measurements at “extreme” speeds: the system is capable of detecting individual terahertz pulses at repetition rates as high as 100 MHz. An integrated data-processing unit converts the detected pulses to RMS values, enabling data streams at sampling rates up to 500 kHz – orders of magnitude faster than conventional terahertz systems. Bringing together several cutting-edge technologies, the TeraSpeed takes advantage of mature fiber laser technology, powerful photoconductive emitters and fast yet sensitive Schottky receivers.

Pulsed terahertz generation with leading-edge technology: InGaAs antennas provide about 30 µW power and a bandwidth of 6 THz. The emitter and detector modules, developed by Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Institute (Berlin/Germany), feature a strip-line and a dipole antenna, respectively, and are packaged with a Silicon lens and SM/PM fiber. They make up the core component of TOPTICA’s TeraFlash pro and TeraFlash smart, but are available as individual modules too.

TOPTICA’s frequency comb product line uses our proprietary CERO-technology which is based on Difference Frequency Generation (DFG). It is inherently fCEO-stable and combines high robustness, high-end performance and a convenient user-interface in a compact format. Frequency combs are used to measure absolute optical frequencies and to stabilize cw-lasers to specific frequencies, for example in order to drive transitions in cold atomic samples. Stabilization of Tunable Diode Lasers to a frequency comb is a reliable way forward to deal with the rising complexity of optical quantum technology applications.

Various extension modules are available that convert the offset-free fundamental output of the DFC CORE from 1560 nm to any desired wavelength between 420 nm and 2200 nm. The wavelength conversion in these modules is achieved with the well-established technology of TOPTICA’s ultrafast fiber lasers. All extension modules use highly stable all-fiber amplification, nonlinear conversion and compression. The output power of all extension modules allows for phase-locking of cw lasers. Special wavelength extensions are available on request or included in TOPTICA's complete stabilized laser systems.

TOPTICA's beat detection consists of two flexible modules: DFC BC and DFC MD. Separating beam combination and beat detection into two units allows for placing them at different locations. The DFC BC and DFC MD units are specifically designed for a combination of the DFC with TOPTICA's DL pro tunable diode laser series, but can also be used with other cw lasers.

Complete stabilized laser systems including the DFC CORE, any desired wavelength extension, beat units, stabilization electronics, wavelength meters, counters, and lasers are now available from one source. Any of TOPTICA’s tunable diode lasers with a wavelength between 190 nm and 2200 nm can be locked to the DFC, lasers with shorter wavelengths can be stabilized using the fundamental of their SHG unit. The complete laser system is controlled from a single GUI. Please contact us for details and individual solutions!

The DFC locking electronics consisting of the Phase Frequency Detector (PFD) and FALC 110 provides high-end phase frequency locking for comb applications. The PFD RF input is designed for use with the RF output signal of the DFC MD. The error signal generated by the PFD is fed to the input of the FALC 110 regulator. The main output of the FALC is passed through the PFD to allow for remote switching of the fast feedback loop which modulates the laser diode current. A copy of the error signal (mon. out) is used to close the slow feedback loop acting on the DL pro piezo (Fine In) with the all-digital PID of the DLC pro. Slow and fast feedback loop can be enabled and disabled with a push of a button in the DFC user interface (TOPAS DFC).

TOPTICA's offset-free frequency comb DFC (Difference Frequency Comb) and tunable cw diode lasers (DL pro) can be combined into easy-to-use laser systems delivering frequency-stable cw-output at any wavelength between 420 nm and 2200 nm. A complete laser system contains a DFC CORE, wavelength extensions (DFC EXT), cw diode lasers (DL pro), beat units (DFC BC, DFC MD), all necessary stabilization electronics, a wavelength meter (High Finesse), RF-reference, counter, spectrum analyzer, control server (PC) and user software.

TOPTICA's iChrome CLE is a compact laser engine that combines four laser lines in one box. All integrated colors are provided via one polarization-maintaining single-mode fiber. It is available with 405, 488, 561 and 640 nm and more than 20 mW guaranteed output power after the fiber each. The system guarantees a plug & play installation since it includes TOPTICA's proprietary COOLAC automatic alignment technology.

The iChrome MLE comprises up to 3 different diode lasers and one DPSS laser fully integrated in one compact housing. The individual lasers are efficiently combined and delivered via an all-in-one PM/SM fiber output. The microprocessor controlled system enables flexible OEM integration. High speed analog and digital modulation allow fast switching of laser wavelength and intensity.