BDS-SM Series ps Diode Lasers

Small Size Picosecond Diode Laser

BDS-SM-xxx-PS
  • Single-Transversal Mode Picosecond and CW Diode Laser
  • Pulse Width Down to 30 ps
  • Excellent Timing Stability - No Warm-Up Time Necessary
  • Optical Power up to 5 mW in Pulsed Mode
  • Optical Power up to 50 mW in CW Mode
  • Free Beam or Single-Mode Fiber Output
  • Repetition Rate 20 MHz / 50 MHz / 80 MHz / CW (Switchable)
  • Trigger Input for Synchronisation to External Clock Sources
  • Internal Power Stabilization Loop
  • Fast ON / OFF / Multiplexing Capability
  • All Electronics Integrated in 40 x 40 x 120 mm Case
  • No External Driver Unit Required
  • Simple +12 V Supply
  • 40 x 40 x 120 mm3 or 40 x 70 x 120 mm3
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Description

General Features

The BDS-SM devices are combined pulsed picosecond and CW diode lasers in a small industrial-size case. All the pulse driver and control circuitry is contained in the laser head. All that is needed to operate the lasers is a +12V power supply and a few control signals for setting repetition rate and optical power. Pulse repetition rate in pulsed mode is 20, 50, or 80 MHz, other repetition rates are available on request or can be obtained by external triggering. Pulse width is in the range of 40 ps to 100 ps.

Laser Switch Box

In OEM applications the laser head can be embedded as it is, with the the external system providing the control signals. For stand-alone applications the LSB-C laser switch box or the LSB-C2 dual-laser switch boxes are available, see photos below. Software-generated control signals can be provides by the bh DCC-100 and DCU-400/800 detector/laser controllers.

Internal Power-Regulation Loop and Fast ON/OFF Function

Due to an internal power regulation loop, the BDS-SM lasers feature extraodinarily stable optical power. Intensity drift by temperature changes and intensity noise by mode fluctuations in the laser diode are almost entirely suppressed. The lasers have a fast on/off function which can be used for beam blanking in scanning applications and for laser multiplexing. The reaction of the optical output power to the ON/OFF control for 100% power and for 10% power is shown below. Horizontal scale is 10 microseconds per division.

Trigger Output

The BDS-SM lasers deliver a trigger output signal for synchronisation to bh TCSPC devices, see figure below. The output amplitude is sufficient for distribution of the trigger signal to several TCSPC modules. The timing stability of the trigger pulses versus the optical pulses is better than 5 ps. Extended warm-up times are not needed. After switch-on of the power supply, the timing is stable within about 4 picoseconds.

Timing Stability

The bh BDS-SM series picosecond diode lasers feature a timing stability in the sub-4ps range. The figure below shows a series of TCSPC recordings of the laser pulses over a period of 640 seconds after power-on of the laser. The left panel shows the data displayed in colour-intensity mode, the right panel in multi-curve mode. The example below shows that timing drift, if present at all, is far smaller than the laser pulse width of 49 ps FWHM. That means TRS, FLIM, or NIRS experiments can be started from the first second after turning on the laser, and do not require repeated reference measurements.

Synchronisation to External Trigger Signal

The BDS-SM lasers can be triggered externally. To keep the internal power regulation loop in the active range the trigger frequency should be in the range from 10 to 80 MHz. The laser switches between the external trigger signal and the internal 20-50-80 MHz clock by sensing the average voltage at the synchronisation input. If the average voltage is above 2.5 V the laser uses the internal clock, if it is below 2.5 V it synchronises to the external signal.

Optical Output

All BDS-SM lasers are tansversal single-mode lasers. That means, the emission virtually comes from a single spot inside the laser. That means the laser beam can be focused in a diffraction-limited spot or coupled into a single-mode fibre. The BDS-SM lasers are available with free-beam output, with fixed (pig tail) fibres, with Lasos Precision fibre connectors, and with Point-Source-Type couplers. An example of fibre coupling is shown in the figure below.

Specifications

 

BDS-SM

Optical

Wavelength / nm

375, 405, 445, 473, 485, 515, 640, 685, 785, 1024, Other on Request

Repetition Rate

20, 50, 80 MHz and CW Operation, Other on Request

Pulse Width (FWHM, at Medium Power, at Maximum Power)

30 - 90 ps, 60 - 300 ps

Power Control Range (Power in Free Beam)

0 to 1 mW … 0 to 5 mW (Depends on Wavelength Version)

Power Control Range (CW Mode, Power in Free Beam)

0 to 20 mW … 0 to 50 mW (Depends on Wavelength Version)

Diameter of Laser Beam (Free Beam)

0.8 mm (Circular) or 1 x 3 mm (Elliptical, Depends on Version)

Beam Configuration

Transversal Single Mode

Polarisation

Horizontal

Coupling Efficiency into Single-Mode Fiber (typ.)

Up to 60 % (Circular-Beam Version)

Trigger Output

Pulse Amplitude

-1.2 V (Peak) into 50 Ω

Pulse Width

1 ns

Output Impedance

50 Ω

Connector

SMA

Jitter between Trigger and Optical Pulse

< 5 ps RMS

Timing  Stability, Trigger to Optical Pulse

< 5 ps RMS

Timing Drift after Power-On

< 5 ps

Synchronisation Input

Input Amplitude

+3.3 V to +5 V into 50 Ω

Duty Cycle

10 to 30 %; DC Equivalent must be < 2.5 V

Input Frequency

Single shot to 80 MHz

Switching from Internal Clock to Sync Input

Automatic, by Average Voltage at Trigger Input Connector

Control Inputs

Frequency (20, 50, 80 MHz) and CW Operation

TTL / CMOS high

Laser ON / OFF

TTL / CMOS low

Response of Optical Output to ON/OFF Signal

< 4 µs for Power 10 to 100 %

External Power Control

Analog Input, 0 to +10 V

Response Time of Optical Output to Power Control

< 4 µs for Power 10 to 100 %

Power Supply

Power Supply Voltage

+9 V to +15 V

Power Supply Current at 12 V

200 mA to 500 mA 1)

Mechanical Data

Dimensions (OEM)

40 mm x 40 mm x 120 mm

Dimensions (w/ Cooling)

40 mm x 70 mm x 120 mm

Mounting Thread

four M3 Holes

Heat Sink Requirements

< 2 °C / W 2)

Maximum Values

Power Supply Voltage

0 V to +15 V

Voltage at 'Laser ON/OFF' and 'Frequency' Inputs

-2 V to +7 V

Voltage at 'Laser Power' Input

-12 V to +12 V

Ambient Temperature

15 °C to +40 °C

(1) Depends on case temperature due to laser diode cooling. Cooling current changes with case temperature.
(2) OEM version without cooling fan must be mounted on heat sink. Case temperature must remain below 40 °C.

Downloads

Documents

The bh TCSPC Handbook
10th edition, September 2023

View

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