The fibre can be positioned anywhere in the optical delivery system and the laser can be located at any convenient point, giving instrumentation designers more flexibility
Blue Sky Research, a manufacturer of semiconductor lasers, laser systems and OEM components, has announced the introduction of a new product family: the Fibertec line of fibre-coupled lasers. The Fibertec line combines Blue Sky Research's high performance laser modules, which include integrated control, monitor and drive electronics and the company's microlens optics technology, with a single mode fibre pigtail.
The first high volume products available are the Fibertec 405, a 405nm violet laser with up to 15mW output power, and the Fibertec 635, a 635nm red laser with 25mW output power.
Additional wavelengths and configurations of 440nm, 473nm, 658nm, 690nm and 785nm are available in sample volumes.
The complete Fibertec product line will consist of UV, violet, blue, green, red and near infrared versions, and includes polarisation maintaining fibre and beam collimating optics options.
Fibertec fiber-coupled modules offer considerable advantages for many applications.
By separating the beam delivery system from the diode laser itself, beam quality and stability considerations are greatly simplified.
The fibre can be positioned anywhere in the optical delivery system and the laser can be located at any convenient point, giving instrumentation designers more flexibility.
Blue Sky Research's microlens technology optimises the beam profile for optimum coupling efficiency, generating maximum output power from the fibre.
The output from the fibre is an almost perfect circular Gaussian beam with low aberrations.
Optional collimation or filtering optics can be installed at the fiber tip, allowing for a variety of different output beam profiles and spectra. "We receive many requests for fiber-coupled configurations of our lasers, so we decided to release a complete line of integrated fiber-coupled modules," said Chris Gladding, president and CEO of Blue Sky Research.
"Stable and accurate coupling for maximum efficiency can be a tricky business, but with our microlens optics and fiber coupling methods, we're able to mass-produce high stability, low-cost laser modules that deliver optimised beam profiles with maximum output power". Each Fibertec laser includes a high power laser diode coupled with a one meter single mode fibre, thermoelectric cooler and integrated drive and protection electronics in a compact (71mm x 24mm x 15mm) package.
Power outputs of 5mW, 10mW and 25mW are available for the Fibertec 635 and 5mW, 10mW and 15 mW for the Fibertec 405.
Standard features include automatic power control and automatic current control electronics, and a 1m single mode fibre pigtail.
Control interface options include either a manual interface of jumpers and trimpots, or remote control through circuit board pins.
Performance meets or exceeds the best available laser sources, with very stable output power, beam pointing stability over temperature, high electrical efficiency and proven reliability.
In addition to the Fibertec 405 and 635, the complete Fibertec line will include wavelengths from 375nm to 785nm, available in a variety of standard as well as custom configurations.
