new products

Pyroelectric detectors

The LMM series of low-microphonics pyroelectric detectors from InfraTec reduce detector noise caused by mechanical vibration by 20 times, allowing the detectors to be used for more sensitive applications. Another line of high-gain detectors has responsivity 100 times that of standard detectors without an increase in noise. The single- and multichannel detectors for heat and flame detection and gas analysis are aimed at applications in the medical, refinery, mining, automotive, and semiconductor instrumentation fields.
Electro Optical Components, Santa Rosa CA

LED array

A UV LED array has a peak wavelength of 375 nm with a radiant flux of 254 mW when driven at a maximum peak current of 300‑mA. The Shark OLTH-00280-UV ­contains 50 die in a TO-66 package that has a standard half-max viewing angle of ±54°. Collimating optics and custom lenses are available. The LEDs are mounted on a BeO substrate for efficient heat transfer.
Opto Technology, Wheeling, IL

Carbon dioxide lasers

The Axialscan −30/BO CO2 lasers are designed for materials processing applications. Spot size is about one-third that of standard systems. The BO 100 has field sizes from 100 × 100 mm to 500 × 500 mm. The BO 300 covers from 300 × 300 mm to 750 × 750 mm. The BO 600 ranges from 600 × 600 mm to 1250 × 1250 mm.
Raylase, Wessling, Germany

IR camera

The ThermaCAM P65 infrared camera for IR inspection applications includes up to 30 s of voice recording with each image using Bluetooth wireless technology. It has FireWire connectivity, allowing the transfer of digital video at up to 800 Mbit/s, as well as USB and IrDA ­connectivity. It also includes onboard AVI video storage and an automatic LED target illuminator. It is based on a 320 × 240 uncooled microbolometer and has thermal sensitivity of 0.8°C.
FLIR Systems, Billerica, MA

Laser-marking additive

DataLaser MasterBatch is a new coding, marking, and printing additive that can be added directly to the polymer to be extruded or injection molded. It is a nontoxic, environmentally friendly additive that produces a positive image when marked by a low-power CO2 laser. The additive undergoes a simple chemical color change and ­creates a stable, high-contrast image.
Sherwood Technology, Cheshire, England

Recirculating chillers

The 6000 Series chillers provide advanced protection for lasers, ­plasma-etching equipment, EDM machines, and CNC lathes. The recirculating chillers are designed to instantly alert users when process parameters such as fluid temperature, fluid pressure, fluid flow rate, or ambient temperature fall outside user-set limits. They maintain process temperatures from −10º to 40º with ±0.1ºC stability.
PolyScience, Niles, IL

Photonic-crystal fiber

A new family of ytterbium-doped PCF (photonic-crystal fiber) products offers an alternative to existing Yb-doped dual-clad step-index fibers for fiber-laser applications. The new F-DC dual-clad fibers allow higher output-power levels in a single spatial-mode format. These off-the-shelf catalog products are available in several core sizes up to 40 µm.
Newport, Irvine, CA

Spectral-measurement system

The OL 756 high-accuracy UV-VIS spectral-measurement system is a compact, portable double-monochrometer system for spectral measurements over the 200- to 800-nm range. The system can perform solar spectral measurements over the full range in less than 6.5 seconds. It has a USB interface and operates on 12-V DC power for portable or remote measurements.
Optronic Laboratories, Orlando, FL

Linear stage

The ATS125 linear ball-screw stage travels up to 600 mm at speeds up to 600 mm/s. The side-sealed device has an integral brushless motor and a hard aluminum cover. It includes square-wave encoder output with a net resolution of 1 µm for a 10-mm ball screw and 0.5 µm for a 5-mm ball screw.
Aerotech, Pittsburgh, PA

Fiber cleanser

FPF1 fiberoptic preparation fluid is a nonflammable, environmentally safe solvent for cleaning fibers after stripping and before fusion splicing or field termination. The fluid is double-filtered to 0.2‑µm. It dries without residue and reduces local static buildup. It is safe on metals, glass, cured epoxies, and plastics.
AFL Telecommunications, Franklin, TN

Oscilloscope memory

New memory options for the Infiniium 54830 series use deep-memory technology with depths up to 128 Mpts, allowing fast waveform capture of complex signals. The oscilloscopes, with bandwidths of 600 MHz and 1‑GHz, can capture waveforms for time spans in tens of milliseconds. A segmented memory acquisition mode allows the capture of bursting modes only during periods of activity.
Agilent Technologies Test and Measurement, Santa Clara, CA

Material-qualification software

Indico Pro software works with LabSpec Pro, QualitySpec Pro, and FieldSpec Pro instruments for material qualification and quantification. It allows the user to simultaneously analyze multiple parameters, and to easily store and recall the calibrations associated with each application. Users can review and plot collected spectra, then generate reports of analytical results.
Analytical Spectral Devices, Boulder, CO

MEMS-based OSA

An optical-spectrum-analyzer module includes a MEMS scanner that rotates to continuously change the wavelength reaching the photodiode. The module produces a 45-nm wavelength range from 1525 to 1570 nm, and it can achieve a scan rate of 2.6 ms. It has dynamic range of 33 dB, wavelength resolution bandwidth of 0.1 nm, and wavelength accuracy of 10 pm.
Anritsu, Richardson, TX

Mux/demux modules

A line of high-channel-count, scalable multiplexer/demultiplexer modules are based on thin-film-filter technology. The modules can be used in both mux/demux and in reconfigurable add/drop applications. Upgrades can be handled in 8- to 10-channel increments in any wavelength order. They are expandable up to 40 channels.
Bookham Technology, Santa Rosa, CA

Broadband light source

The BWC-SLD-1D 1300-nm SLD broadband light source has a FWHM bandwidth broader than 100 nm with an output up to 10 mW and ripple less than 0.2 dB. It comes with an embedded isolator and high-precision controller to provide immunity from fiber back-reflection and stable output. It has a quasi-Gaussian spectrum for optical-coherence tomography.
B&W Tek, Newark, DE

High-NA fiber

Optran Plus Advantage silica/silica optical fiber has a high numerical aperture of 0.30. It can accept 80% more than typical NA 0.22 fibers. Fibers are available for 160 to 1200 nm and 350 to 2500 nm. Core sizes for stock fibers range from 100 to 600‑µm, with custom sizes available, along with custom bundles and ferrules.
CeramOptic, East Longmeadow, MA

Laser-diode stacks

The LightStack family of high-power laser-diode stacks are designed for applications that require kilowatts of continuous-wave or quasi-continuous-wave power. The lasers are available in wavelengths of 808 and 940 nm and power levels up to 1200-W CW or 1500-W QCW. They come in configurations of 1 to 10 bars horizontally or up to 15 bars vertically, with custom designs available.
Coherent, Santa Clara, CA

Spectrophotometers

The CHEMUSB2 series of spectrophotometers are PC-based UV-to-visible and visible-to-near-IR systems designed for chemical-absorbance measurements. The systems include a spectrometer, a light source, and a cuvette holder in a package about the size of a CD jewel case. A 2048-­element linear CCD-array detector provides spectral analysis within 3 ms at 1 nm optical resolution (FWHM).
Ocean Optics, Dunedin, CA

Pocket fault locator

A pocket fault locator injects 650-nm laser light into optical fiber to detect breaks or faults that could hinder signal transmission. It can detect breaks or excessive bends over distances up to 7 km on single-mode and 5 km on multimode fiber. It features a −0.5-dBm laser and operates in both continuous and modulated mode.
Fiber Instrument Sales, Oriskany, NY

Vibration-isolation system

The BM-4 0.5-Hz vibration-isolation system is based on negative-stiffness technology for isolating equipment from low-frequency building and ground vibrations. It requires neither electrical nor air hookups. The 60-lb device is smaller than 17 × 17 × 9 in. and comes in three models to support payloads of 0 to 25 lb, 25 to 50 lb, and 50 to 100 lb.
Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, NJ

Miniature ­­photomultiplier

The 9001V01 12-mm bialkali photomultiplier includes a voltage divider within an insulated housing. It offers rise time of 700 ps and dark counts of 10 s−1. It is designed for applications involving the measurement of fast transients or photon counting with instruments that require a very small space.
Electron Tubes, Ruislip, Middlesex, England

Controller

The FPC pyro controller for pyrometers and laser systems has standard Ethernet and VNC interfaces for integration into automation systems. It has 24-V industrial-standard digital and analog interfaces for integration into an SPS environment. It can also be used as a PC. A built-in CD burner allows the copying of measured data.
Fisba Optik, St. Gallen, Switzerland

Piezo inverter

A compact piezo inverter for multilamp backlight systems, such as LCD TVs and headrest displays, offers dimming ratios of better than 500:1. It operates on 12- to 24-V DC. Control circuitry and the power supply can be mounted remotely. Optical feedback provides uniform lamp output and compensates for temperature changes.
Global Display Solutions, Middlewich, Cheshire, England

Spot light sources

The Lightningcure spot light sources are designed for UV curing of optical parts and fiberoptic connectors, as well as other bonding and sealing applications. The LC4 has output of typically 3500 mW/cm2 at 365 nm, with power consumption of 280-V AC. The LC3 has intensity of 500 mW/cm2 at 365 nm and 570 mW/cm2 at 436‑nm, on 50-V AC power.
Hamamatsu, Bridgewater, NJ

Laser-diode modules

A series of mini-laser-diode modules have active thermo-electric cooling to stabilize the wavelength and extend the life of the laser. An integrated PT100 controls the temperature of the laser and allows the user to slightly shift the wavelength. The modules come in wavelengths of 375, 405, 440, and 472 nm.
IMM Messtechnologie, Unterschleissheim, Germany

Pulsed LEDs

NanoLED LEDs produce subnanosecond pulses at 280 and 340 nm. Pulse widths range from less than 100 ps to 1 ns. They are designed for biosensor research, drug discovery, and a range of analytical applications based on time-resolved fluorescence. The 280-nm LED matches the absorption of amino acides, while the 340-nm LED could replace nitrogen lasers.
Jobin Yvon, Edison, NJ

Current sources

The Model 6221 AC/DC current source and waveform generator allows the user to program pulse widths as short as 5 µs and support I-V measurements. It has an Ethernet interface and can provide AC currents from 1‑pA to 100 mA. The Model 6220 DC source, and the 6221, can provide DC currents from 100 fA to 100 mA.
Keithley Instruments, Cleveland, OH

Spectral Lamp

The SLMS-0400 spectral-lamp-measurement system provides repeatable, NIST-traceable measurement of small, low-power light sources such as LEDs and small lamps. It consists of a 4-in.-diameter integrating sphere, a diode-array spectrometer, a regulated-current lamp power supply, and software. It can calculate total luminous flux, chromaticity, color temperature, and other characteristics.
Labsphere, North Sutton, NH

Optical-design software

TracePro optical-design and analysis software now supports SolidWorks 2005 3-D mechanical-design software, allowing users to analyze the effects of light properties on any geometry within SolidWorks. Users can perform illumination, optical, stray light, radiometry, and photometry analysis.
Lambda Research, Littleton, MA

Marking system

A Q-switched fiber-laser marking system can be used in applications that would use Nd:YAG lasers. The ­system’s components include a Q-switched fiber laser with power up to 200 W, scan head, PCI control board, power supply, and software configured for a user’s specific application. The system offers wall-plug efficiencies up to 20%.
Laser Photonics, Lake Mary, FL

Step motor

A 0.9° NEMA size-17, high-accuracy motor is available in four lengths: 0.92, 1.10, 1.38, and 1.54 in. The motor can hold torque ranging from 12 oz-in. to 30 oz-in., depending on length. Inertia is between 0.07 and 0.13 oz-in. Unipolar and bipolar windings are available.
Lin Engineering, Santa Clara, CA

Hand-held LED source

The Loctite 7700 hand-held LED light source is a portable curing system for UV/visible curing adhesives. It has a typical output of 500 mW/cm2 at 405‑nm. It measures 9 × 1 × 0.75 in., weighs less than 0.5 lb, and is designed for use in crowded, hard-to-reach spaces. It can be powered with rechargeable batteries or connected to an AC source.
Henkel, Rocky Hill, CT

Photoreceivers

Two quadrant-cell photoreceivers are designed for sensing small deviations in the position of a laser beam for beam-stabilization systems. The silicon-based Model 2901 is sensitive from 300 to 1050 nm and the InGaAs-based Model 2903 is sensitive from 900 to 1700 nm. The devices consist of four identical photocells spaced at 10 µm.
New Focus, San Jose, CA

Replicated toriodal mirrors

Replicated toroidal mirrors can be used in optical-bench designs, including Czerny Turner-designed monochromators. They correct astigmatism and increase energy throughput, especially where array detection is used.
Opco Laboratory, Fitchburg, MA

Optical fibers

Optical fibers from FiberTech are mainly silica with core sizes between 100 and 1500 µm, suitable for high- and low-level light transmission between 190 nm and 2 µm. Fiber types include plastic-clad silica and all-silica. Quartz with varying degrees of OH doping tune the transmission characteristics from deep-UV to UV/visible and Visible/IR.
Pacer Components, Reading, Berkshire, England

Ultrafast fiber lasers

The FCPA µJewel line of ultrashort-pulsed fiber lasers from IMRA America provides microjoules of near-IR power at repetition rates from 10 kHz to 5 MHz. The plug-and-play system is attached by a cord and requires no alignment during installation and no water-cooling. The lasers are designed for precision micromachining applications and can cut and drill transparent materials.
Photonic Solutions, Edinburgh, Scotland

Camera-control software

Motion Tools ­automated, slow-motion-analysis, camera-control software is designed for use with the company’s PC-based high-speed video cameras. The camera-control and image-replay software includes automatic single-point tracking and a manual-tracking feature that captures one to four points per frame. An optional data-acquisition module is available.
Photron USA, San Diego, CA

Alignment system

The F-206.S Micro-Hexapod alignment system for nano­positioning provides 6-D motion with 33-nm resolution. It is based on a six-axis parallel-kinematics micromanipulation system. A digital controller includes open-source LabView drivers, DLL libraries, and alignment routines. Motion is determined by real-time algorithms instead of fixed bearings, allowing a user to choose a virtual pivot point.
Physik Instrumente, Auburn, MA

Power supply

The NHC3011-6 AC-DC power supply provides up to 107 A of 28 V from an input of 180 to 264-V AC. It has no-minimum-load operation and a mean time between failures of more than 700,000 hours. It is EN61000-3-2 power-factor-correction compliant.
Power-One, Andover, MA

Tunable OPO

The VisIR2-ULD tunable OPO from GWU provides broadly tunable laser light in the 400- to 2500-nm range, or in the 210- to 2500-nm range with optional second-harmonic generation. The midband OPO uses a type II phase-matched BBO crystal pumped at 355 nm by the third-harmonic output of a Q-switched Nd:YAG.
Pro-Lite Technology, Milton Keynes, England