Alpes Lasers Cascade Laser Starter Kit Datasheet

QCL FAQ ListFrequently Asked Questions about Quantum Cascade Lasersand Starter Kit from Alpes Lasers SAThis FAQ should address the main questions aris

CHAPTER 2. ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES 9• maximum rise/fall time of 10ns (to prevent detrimental heating)Alpes Lasers SA produces Starter Kits w

CHAPTER 2. ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES 10Is it possible to reduce the divergence?The divergence in the vertical direction is a parameter that is

Chapter 3Starter Kit (pulser, temperaturecontroller, etc...)This chapter discusses properties of the Starter Kit, used for pulsed mode lasers.3.1 Oper

CHAPTER 3. STARTER KIT (PULSER, TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER, ETC...) 123.2.2 What is the ”external power supply” used for?The ”external power supply” is a

CHAPTER 3. STARTER KIT (PULSER, TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER, ETC...) 13thermal capacity of this tiny volume, the laser emission responds much faster to DCb

CHAPTER 3. STARTER KIT (PULSER, TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER, ETC...) 14the pulse current must always result in increased optical power output, otherwisethe

Chapter 4Operating QCLs in continuous wavemodeFor electrical properties, see ”Chapter 2, p 8, Electrical properties”.4.1 Thermal propertiesThe dissipa

CHAPTER 4. OPERATING QCLS IN CONTINUOUS WAVE MODE 16Connectors for the LLH with a BNC plug are available for CW laser operation. Thisis always center

CHAPTER 4. OPERATING QCLS IN CONTINUOUS WAVE MODE 17does not vary too much with frequency, it follows that roughly C > 8/ZAC/f.For a 50 Ω generator

Chapter 5General QCL questionsThis chapter discusses some general properties of QC lasers, mainly concerning opti-cal behavour. For additional informa

Contents1 Mechanical and geometrical properties 31.1 Geometry of QC lasers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CHAPTER 5. GENERAL QCL QUESTIONS 195.2.2 Why is such a large range obtainable?This peculiar characteristic is due to the fact that in QC devices the e

CHAPTER 5. GENERAL QCL QUESTIONS 205.3 Tuning and linewidth5.3.1 How does a DFB-QCL tune?In QCLs there are no effects such as carrier density dependen

CHAPTER 5. GENERAL QCL QUESTIONS 21can be shifted by about 1.3E-4/K*60K or approximately 0.8% from the lowest to thehighest temperature.

Chapter 6Glossary and AbbreviationsCW Continuous Wave; for lasers this means operation with DC current, generatinguninterrupted emission.DFB Distribut

CONTENTS 23.5.2 What is the reflectivity of the LLH window? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Operating QCLs in continuous wave mode 154.

Chapter 1Mechanical and geometricalpropertiesQC lasers from Alpes Lasers SA are mounted on special carriers (NS or ST), whichrequire special handling

CHAPTER 1. MECHANICAL AND GEOMETRICAL PROPERTIES 41.1.2 What are the physical dimensions of laser carriers?There are two versions, the ST and the NS;

CHAPTER 1. MECHANICAL AND GEOMETRICAL PROPERTIES 51.2 How to handle a QCL1.2.1 How do I store a QCL?QCLs can be stored at ambient temperature (10..30C

CHAPTER 1. MECHANICAL AND GEOMETRICAL PROPERTIES 6As the QCL chip itself is soldered, and the contact pads on the ceramics are madeof Gold, it is not

Chapter 2Electrical and optical propertiesThis chapter discusses electrical properties of pulsed and CW QC lasers for specialissues concerning CW oper

CHAPTER 2. ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES 82.1.3 What is the lifetime of the laser (MTBF)?At present only extrapolated lifetime experiments have be