New Products

Focus on Photonics

The descriptions of the new products listed in this section are based on information supplied to us by the manufacturers. PHYSICS TODAY can assume no responsibility for their accuracy. To facilitate inquiries about a particular product, a Reader Service Card is attached inside the back cover of the magazine.
Lawrence G. Rubin

Near IR Photomultiplier Tubes

Hamamatsu's new R5509 photomultiplier tube (PMT) provides low-light-level measurement in the near infrared (NIR). The R5509-42, with an InP/InGaAsP photocathode, covers the spectral range of 300-1400 nm, while the InP/InGaAs photocathode of the R5509-72 extends that range to 1700 nm; conventional PMTs seldom are responsive beyond 1100 nm. Very little spectral sensitivity correction is required because of the R5509's flat response from the visible to the NIR. The new tubes provide photon counting performance, a rise time of 3 ns (10 times faster than germanium photodiodes), and a low-excitation-density design to allow high-precision measurement that is not affected by strong excitation light. Applications include singlet oxygen detection, semiconductor materials analysis, cancer treatment, and pharmaceutical development. Hamamatsu Corp, 360 Foothill Road, Box 6910, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807

Triple-Remote-Head Digital Camera

DuncanTech has introduced the RH1100 high-resolution triple-remote-head digital camera that provides up to three imaging heads operating exactly in synchronization and interfacing to a single camera control unit. Users can select any combination of the imaging heads in monochrome or color con_1figuration with resolutions of 1392 × 1040 picture elements and 12 frames/s acquisition rate. Each sensor produces an image in a single progressive scan to provide the freeze-frame accuracy needed when imaging moving objects. The system's noise-reduction techniques enable full 10-bit sensitivity even at the maximum frame rate. The camera heads can be used independently, or can be combined to acquire multiple orthogonal perspectives and perform stereo and three-dimensional imaging. DuncanTech Inc, 11824 Kemper Road, Auburn, California 95603

Wavelength Sensing Module

Pacific Silicon Sensor has announced the PSS-WS-7.56-PCBA, a silicon device that can accurately determine the wavelength of light within the range of 450-900 nm, with a resolution of less than 1 nm. The detector has a 2.75-mm square active sensing area with two p-n junctions, superimposed one on top of the other. The ratio of the junctions' outputs is directly proportional to the incident wavelength of the measured light. The resulting output voltage is not affected by the light intensity. The sensor is mounted on a PC board along with the necessary signal processing circuitry, including temperature compensation. The wavelength sensor can be used for LED quantification, color sorting and matching, laser testing, and other applications in scientific and analytical instruments. Pacific Silicon Sensor Inc, 5700 Corsa Avenue, Unit #105, Westlake Village, California 91362

Photodiode for Optical Communications

Advanced Photonix has developed a new silicon p-i-n photodiode, the SD150-14-006. Optimized for digital transmission, the device delivers high data-transfer speeds—16 megabits/s (Mbps) and up to 32 Mbps on selected units. The detector enables high-speed operation at a bias voltage of only 2.5 V, making it compatible with battery-powered systems. Ease of integration is enhanced by a large active area (2.3 mm²), that simplifies optical alignment. The SD150-14-006 features high sensitivity, with a quantum efficiency of more than 80% through the 500- to 850-nm wavelength region; it is intended for use in very fast IR links, infrared-data-acquisition-compatible transceivers in cameras, data storage devices, LAN (local area networks) access nodes, and instrumentation. Advanced Photonix Inc, 1240 Avenida Acaso, Camarillo, California 93012-8727

Miniaturized Pockels Cell

LINOS Photonics has introduced the MPC 4 IM, a compact Pockels Cell, an electrooptical device that provides voltage control of the on-off transmission of light passing through it. This cell is available in different versions for wavelengths ranging from 248 to 1064 nm. Because of the immersion liquid used in the cell, at 1064 nm, the MPC 4 IM has a high transmission (98%) and an extinction ratio of 1:3000 with a half-wavelength voltage applied. The cell's 4-mm aperture and the resulting 12.7-mm o.d. offer a compact housing that allows its use as Q-switches in miniaturized laser systems. The company claims that, with the MPC 4 IM, such systems can now be built in even smaller con_1figurations. LINOS Photonics Inc, 459 Fortune Boulevard, Milford, Massachusetts 01757

Integrating Sphere

Keithley Instruments' new model 2500INT integrating sphere works with the company's 2500 photodiode meter in its L-I-V (light intensity-current-voltage) test system, which is designed to test the output power of laser diode modules. The integrating sphere, 2 inches i.d., features two ports and three detector choices—silicon, germanium, or cooled indium-gallium-arsenide detectors—to cover wavelengths from 500 to 1700 nm. The sphere offers the company's Spectralon inner surface, which exhibits Lambertian reflectance properties, so it reflects equally in all directions regardless of viewing angle. The design of the sphere eases beam alignment problems, minimizes polarization concerns, and eliminates back reflection from objects in the optical path. Keithley offers the 2500INT as the result of an agreement with X-Rite Inc's subsidiary, Labsphere Inc. Keithley Instruments Inc, 28775 Aurora Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44139-1891

Infrared Thermometer

Omega has introduced the OS540 portable IR thermometer. The handheld instrument offers laser sighting by means of either a circle or a dot. Covering the temperature range of -20 to 420°C (0 to 788°F), the OS540 has a resolution of 1°C, a repeatability of ±1°C, and an accuracy of 2°C in the -20 to 100°C range and ±3% from 101 to 420°C. The spectral response of the thermometer is 6 to 14 µm, its response time is 500 ms, and it is calibrated for a blackbody emissivity of 0.95. The IR thermometer has applications in diesel and fleet maintenance, in-process temperature measurement, screen printing, fire and safety, and plastics molding. Omega Engineering Inc, One Omega Drive, Stamford, Connecticut 06907

Cooled CCD Camera

The Princeton Instruments VersArray CT cooled CCD camera from Roper Scientific is designed for extreme low-light digital-imaging applications. The 16-bit system incorporates a megapixel, back-illuminated 1340 × 1300-pixel CCD with superior quantum efficiency. The camera's controller provides readout rates of 50 kHz and 1 MHz with a read noise of less than 3 electrons at 50 kHz and less than 10 electrons at 1 MHz. The VersArray CT is cooled to below -100°C with the company's CryoTiger cooling system, which is designed to provide deep cooling without the need for constant cryogen replenishment. Over a one-hour exposure, the camera reportedly remains photon-noise limited even when detecting a dozen photons per pixel. The system includes an interlocked shutter to prevent inadvertent exposure to high light levels. Roper Scientific, 3660 Quakerbridge Road, Trenton, New Jersey 08619

Laser Energy Heads

Ophir Optronics has announced a line of laser energy heads for plug-and-play operation with the company's Laserstar, Orion P, and Nova (see photo) measuring instruments. The three pyroelectric models, PE10, 25, and 50 (with different apertures), provide accurate and repeatable measurements at up to 5-kHz repetition rates, 3-ms pulse widths, and a wide range of wavelengths; they also have high damage thresholds. The PE models can measure energies from microjoules to 40 J per pulse and can handle both very long and very short pulses with the same head. The model PD10 photodiode energy meter has built-in wavelength calibration and can measure energies down to 1 nJ. Removable diffusers are available for the PE50, allowing that head to measure both high- and low-energy pulses. The measuring instrument displays average power and energy, frequency, exposure, and power and energy graphs. Ophir Optronics Inc, 9 Electronics Avenue, Danvers, Massachusetts 01923

Linear Focal Plane Array

Indigo Systems has developed the ISC0007-GX, an InGaAs linear focal plane 512 1 array designed for telecommunications optical power monitoring. The device operates in the wavelength range 900-1700 nm with 512 pixels con_1figurable as a 25-µm pixel pitch for a 512 array or a 50-µm pixel pitch for a 256 array. It offers saturation control for wide dynamic range, adjustable integration time and capacitance, and very low dark current effects. The pixel output rate is greater than 2.5 MHz with less than 0.2% nonlinearity. The device is fabricated with the company's bump-bonding technique that eliminates all wire bonds between the detector and the readout device. Indigo Systems, 5385 Hollister Avenue, Suite 103, Santa Barbara, California 93111

X-Ray Sensitive Imager

The RadEye3 image sensor from Rad-icon Imaging has a large 49.2 × 73.9 mm active area consisting of a 1024 × 1536 matrix (2:3 aspect) of silicon photodiodes on 48 µm centers and measuring 90 mm on the diagonal. The pixel image area is scanned through three parallel, independent outputs, each running at up to 2.5 MHz, enabling frame rates up to 4.5 frames/s. Differential high-speed video signals are provided from two parallel video outputs; all scanning and control functions are incorporated on the chip. The RadEye3 CMOS imager maintains a dynamic range of more than 14 bits (84 dB) and is optimized to detect x-rays and other energetic radiation in the range of 10-50 keV. The standard module is packaged with a Gd₂O₂S scintillator and a 1-mm thick graphite window; other scintillator and window options are available. Rad-icon Imaging Corp, 3193 Belick Street, Unit 1, Santa Clara, California 95054

New Literature

The 2001/2002 catalog from Newport Corp incorporates new material and existing material that previously appeared in the company's separate Optics and Mechanics, Vibration Control, Photonics, and Motion Control catalogs. Newport Corporation, 1791 Deere Avenue, Irvine, California 92606