Managing Ultra-short Pulses

12 Nov 2015

Ultra-short laser pulses offer huge advantages in many applications, but managing the dispersion is vital to making the most of these few-cycle pulses. Laser Quantum offer a wide range of optics using IBS coating for superior performance in a very demanding field.

Laser Quantum chirped mirror designs utilise ion beam sputtering (IBS) in a range of optics specifically designed for dispersion management of ultra-short pulses. IBS ensures unsurpassed layer accuracy high damage thresholds and are insensitive to environmental conditions due to a dense coating structure without inclusions. By controlling the thickness of over 80 layers the effective wavelength range of the dispersion compensating mirrors (DCM) can be tuned to optimise their ability to compensate for group delay. Designed and manufactured as matched pairs, the DCM range covers wavelength ranges from 450nm to 1200nm and with reflectivity values as high as 99.8%, they can offer group delay dispersion of   130fs^-2.

Laser Quantum use only these mirrors in the design of the venteon range of ultrafast lasers to achieve measured pulse durations very close to the theoretical Fourier transform limited (FTL) value. For example, the venteon ultra has a spectral bandwidth specification >400nm, supporting an FTL duration of

In addition to the DCM mirror range, we also offer high precision wedges for dispersion fine tuning, high reflective silver mirrors, beam splitters, plus the mechanics needed to position them correctly and keep them in place. The whole range of optics is also included in the vChirp software that allows modelling and prediction of the pulse characteristics based on the optical path and elements to be used in an optical setup.

For further information, please visit our dedicated optics and mechanics page on the Laser Quantum web site.

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