Focus on Lasers and Optics

Solid-State 460-nm Laser

Coherent Laser Division has announced the Sapphire 460-10, a diode-pumped semiconductor laser that provides 10 mW of output power at 460 nm. A member of the company's OPSL (optically pumped semiconductor laser) family, this device has the identical product platform as the 488-nm version released by Coherent earlier. The OPSL line is based on a special type of vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser, but uses optical pumping of the semiconductor gain medium rather than the more conventional electrical current drive. Designed to enable a new generation of digital-imaging systems, inspection systems, and bioinstrumentation, the Sapphire lasers are said to minimize the limitations associated with the air-cooled, argon-ion lasers currently used in those applications. Coherent Laser Division, 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, P.O. Box 54980, Santa Clara, California 95056-0980, http://www.Coherentinc.com

Spectra-Physics has introduced the iTRAIN-244 doubling option for its single-frequency ion laser. Based on the company's DeltaConcept external-cavity frequency doubler and the model 2060 ion laser, the iTRAIN-244 delivers more than 200 mW of power at a 244-nm wavelength in the deep UV. Reportedly, this is the first industrial ion laser to use external-cavity doubling. Compared to the intracavity technique used in traditional ion lasers, the iTRAIN-244 delivers up to 10 times better beam-pointing stability. In combination with the ion laser, the doubling module is permanently aligned; all operational functions, including crystal position, are automatically controlled by the laser's computer. The 244-nm laser is intended for applications such as fiber-Bragg-grating writing and semiconductor inspection. Spectra-Physics, 1335 Terra Bella Avenue, P.O. Box 7013, Mountain View, California 94039, http://www.splasers.com

The QuikLase-50 from New Wave Research is a compact, pulsed, single- or multi-wavelength neodymium:YAG laser-cutting system designed for microelectronics machining. Models are available with individual wavelengths of 1064, 532, or 355 nm, a model with all three wavelengths on a user-selectable basis, and a model offering 532 and 266 nm. The QuikLase-50 operates from single-shot to 50 Hz continuously, allowing for optimum control during material removal. In multi-wavelength mode, the laser incorporates the company's advanced beam-delivery system, which combines multi-wavelength flexibility with single-wavelength convenience. The cutting system is said to be well-suited for trimming high-frequency gold capacitors and small batches of thick- and thin-film resistors, and for removing polyimide, silicon nitride, aluminum, and gold and copper metal lines from semiconducting devices. New Wave Research, 47613 Warm Springs Boulevard, Fremont, California 94539, http://www.new-wave.com

Melles Griot's new 58 BTL series of diode-pumped solid-state lasers operate at 430 nm with a single longitudinal mode and produce an output with less than 2% peak-to-peak noise. The lasers are available with output powers of 5 or 8 mW; the beam is nearly circular (a 1.25:1 aspect ratio) and is linearly polarized. Reportedly, the 58 BTL's long coherence length is ideal for long-path-length holography and its violet wavelength is well-suited for fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, and DVD mastering applications. Melles Griot Laser Group, 2051 Palomar Airport Road, 200, Carlsbad, California 92009, www. mellesgriot.com

Cutting Edge Optronics has developed the Scimitar, a diode-pumped 1064-nm neodymium:YAG laser. The model SC-20 produces 20 W in the TEM₀₀ mode, while the multimode output of models SC-100 and SC-150 are 100 and 150 W, respectively. The Scimitar is equipped for CW or acousto-optic Q-switch operation from 1 to 50 kHz; the pulsewidth is less than 100 ns at 1 kHz and less than 200 ns at 10 kHz. Also available is an optional green output producing up to 35 W of 532-nm light. Applications for this solid-state laser include micromachining, welding, cutting, ablating, drilling, engraving, sintering, and very fast laser marking. Cutting Edge Optronics Inc, 20 Point West Boulevard, St. Charles, Missouri 63301, http://www.ceolaser.com

The Palm Laser Microbeam system from Carl Zeiss was designed for microdissection, microablation, and contamination-free recovery of homogeneous cell areas, single cells, or subcellular structures. A high-photon-density nitrogen UV laser is interfaced into the Palm's microscope and focused through an objective to a beam-spot size of less than 1 µm in diameter. The system precisely cuts out a selected area or a single cell. After microdissection, the isolated specimen is ejected from the object plane and catapulted directly into the cap of a common microphage tube. Laser-pressure catapulting (LPC) is achieved with the laser-pressure force; samples can be driven several millimeters up against gravity. Recovery of DNA, RNA, or protein is not impaired by the LPC process and the samples can be forwarded for further analysis. Carl Zeiss Inc, One Zeiss Drive, Thornwood, New York 10594, http://www.zeiss.com

Power Technology has introduced a temperature-controlled semiconductor laser module, the PPM04 (LD1406). It emits a 4-mW beam of blue light at 440 ±10 nm, and is said to be an efficient, compact, low-cost replacement for helium-cadmium lasers. The PPM04 features a low-temperature coefficient of 0.06 nm/°C and incorporates a thermoelectric cooler to keep the lasers operating at 20°C, thus prolonging the life of the diodes (estimated mean time to failure in excess of 500 h). The module offers a stable wavelength in a single transverse mode, an adjustable focus, beam centering, and optional beam-expanding optics. Applications include fluorescence, spectroscopy, microscopy, display, high-resolution printing, and medical diagnostic procedures. Power Technology Inc, P.O. Box 191117, Little Rock, Arkansas 72219-1117, http://www.powertechnology.com

Thermo Laser Science has announced the 337-Sx OEM nitrogen laser as a source of 337.1-nm UV radiation with a repetition rate of up to 100 Hz. It emits pulses of 4 ns in duration with a pulse energy of 50-100 µJ at 100 Hz and 75-150 µJ at 10 Hz. Peak power is 12-25 kW at 100 Hz, and 19-38 kW at 10 Hz; the average power is 5-10 mW at 100 Hz. The 337-Sx can be used with the matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometric and other OEM applications. MALDI-TOF is used to identify proteins and plays an important role in proteomics research involving the entire complement of human proteins. The 337-Sx incorporates a field-replaceable sealed plasma cartridge, a polymer-encapsulated module that includes the energy-storage capacitors, the spark-gap switching element, the plasma tube, and the resonator mirrors. Thermo Laser Science, 8E Forge Parkway, Franklin, Massachusetts 02038, http://www.laserscience.com

Edmund Industrial Optics has introduced a new line of beamsplitters, based on the low polarization dependence of their hybrid metallic/dielectric coatings. Designed to reflect 50% of the incident energy, these beamsplitters are made from BK7 optical-grade glass with minimum substrate thickness. All back surfaces are multilayer, antireflection coated to reduce back reflections to less than 0.5% for each of the available wavelength ranges 430-670 nm and 720-1080 nm. The design allows for minimal ghosting of images and maximum throughput, reportedly with much less energy loss than beamsplitters with metallic coatings. The new models have a surface accuracy of 1 λ per inch on both surfaces, a clear aperture greater than 85%, and a parallelism of 3 arc minutes. Edmund Industrial Optics, 101 East Gloucester Pike, Barrington, New Jersey 08007-1380, http://www.edmundoptics.com

Morgan Advanced Ceramics (MAC) is offering alumina ceramic reflectors for use primarily in pumping chambers for low- or high-power YAG lasers. The MAC reflectors are made from the ceramic formulation Sintox AL, a porous 99.7% alumina sintered at high temperature to a controlled porosity; a high-temperature glaze is then applied to seal the reflecting surface. Maximum sizes for standard manufacturing techniques are 250 mm in length and up to 80 mm in diameter. Sintox AL features a highly diffuse reflection characteristic over a 570-2000 nm wavelength band, high mechanical strength, superior thermal conductivity, and high dimensional and electrical stability at all operating temperatures. Morgan Advanced Ceramics, 225 Theodore Rice Boulevard, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02745, http://www.morganadvancedceramics.com

Meller Optics' sapphire waveplates are available from 300 to 4700 nm for erbium:YAG and holmium lasers at 2940 and 2100 nm, respectively. Said to be more durable than quartz or mica and impervious to chemicals, the waveplates are offered in quarter-wave or half-wave versions, depending on polarization requirements. They feature a 10-5 scratch-dig surface quality and less than 1 arc second parallelism, and are offered in 10-30 mm diameters, with "V" coat or broadband antireflection coatings at 0.25% reflection per surface. Meller Optics Inc, 120 Corliss Street, P.O. Box 6001, Providence, Rhode Island 02940

Janos Technology has announced its 2001 Precision Optical Components catalog, which includes infrared optics from windows and lenses to off-axis parabolic mirrors. The products section contains part numbers and specifications; the reference section, a table of contents and technical information. Janos Technology Inc, 1068 Grafton Road, Townshend, Vermont 05353-7702, http://www.janostech.com