Newport wavelength extension unit for femtosecond lasers

The WEU-02 wavelength extension unit expands the capability of femtosecond lasers for use in various spectroscopy, imaging, and pump-probe applications. It can also be integrated into two-photon microscope setups, adding modalities for enhanced imaging capabilities. A thumbwheel maintains the fundamental for two-photon imaging; selectively splits to add pump-probe and multimodal capability; and independently controls the attenuation of the fundamental beam, the input to the photonic crystal fiber, and the output Stokes beams. Two-position slide controls narrow the bandwidth to 3 nm around an 800 nm pump, and a micrometer fine-tunes the timing of the two beams in order to overlap them temporally.
Newport (MKS Instruments)
Irvine, CA
www.newport.com/TAC

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PRESS RELEASE

Newport Introduces New WEU-02 Wavelength Extension Unit for Multimodal Imaging and Spectroscopy

Irvine, CA – May 19, 2011 – Newport Corporation, a worldwide leader in lasers and photonics solutions that Make, Manage and Measure Light®, has introduced the WEU-02, a wavelength extension unit designed to expand the capability of femtosecond lasers. Through a series of user controls, the WEU-02 can be configured for use in various spectroscopy, imaging, and pump-probe applications. It can also be integrated into two-photon microscope set-ups to add modalities for enhanced imaging capabilities.

The design of the WEU-02 allows the fundamental beam to pass through, preserving the beam path and tuning range of the pump source. A portion of the fundamental can be sent to a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) to be converted to a broadband supercontinuum. This light can then be recombined with the remaining fundamental for use in pump-probe and multimodal spectroscopy and microscopy experiments. This supercontinuum can be used as a Stokes beam to add broadband Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) spectroscopy and microscopy capabilities around 3000 cm-1 in existing setups utilizing two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG).

User controls include a thumbwheel to either maintain the fundamental for two-photon imaging, or selectively split to add pump-probe and multimodal capability. Thumbwheels are also used to independently control the attenuation of the fundamental beam, the input to the PCF, and the output Stokes beams. Two-position slide controls allow the user to narrow the bandwidth to 3 nm around an 800 nm pump, or select whether or not to recombine the pump and Stokes. A micrometer is used to fine-tune the timing of the two beams in order to overlap them temporally.

For additional information, please contact Newport’s Technology and Applications Center. www.newport.com/TAC

About Newport Corporation
Newport Corporation is a leading global supplier of advanced-technology products and systems to customers in the scientific research, microelectronics manufacturing, aerospace and defense/security, life and health sciences and precision industrial manufacturing markets. Newport’s innovative solutions leverage its expertise in high-power semiconductor, solid-state and ultrafast lasers, photonics instrumentation, sub-micron positioning systems, vibration isolation, optical subsystems and precision automation to enhance the capabilities and productivity of its customers’ manufacturing, engineering and research applications. Newport is part of the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index and the Russell 2000 Index.

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