Thorlabs' single-frequency, turnkey, low-noise laser systems are ready-to-use laser systems that integrate our ULN15PC or DFB1550P diodes with a low-noise driver and temperature stabilization inside of a benchtop housing. To minimize the laser linewidth and relative intensity noise (RIN), these lasers include drive electronics that are designed to minimize the current noise. An isolator is integrated at the output of the lasers to minimize the impact of any back-reflected light on the lasers.
The ULN15TK is an ultra-low-noise (ULN) laser system based on a hybrid external-cavity semiconductor laser employing a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) for feedback to the laser cavity. This patented design enables exceptionally narrow Lorentzian linewidths of 100 Hz and record low RIN below -160 dBc/Hz. When factory-set for optimized performance, this laser offers typical optical output powers of 120 mW with an SMSR of 70 dB. As a result of this unique design, the mode-hop-free single-frequency regions are not continuous as the laser current is adjusted, typically limited to 20 mA to 50 mA wide current regions. The temperature of the laser case is stabilized through a third temperature stabilization circuit to provide long-term power and wavelength stability when the system is used in standard laboratory environments.
The DFB15TK is based on a distributed feedback (DFB) cavity on the laser chip, providing single-frequency emission with typical relative intensity noise (RIN) of -150 dBc/Hz and typical linewidths of 50 kHz. Factory-set for optimized performance, this laser offers a minimum output power of 100 mW with a side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of 50 dB. This design allows for a broad, mode-hop-free, single-frequency operation range (350 mA to 1000 mA). The DFB15TK laser system can also be tuned by adjusting the current or the temperature of the laser chip, with a mode-hop-free temperature tuning range of up to 2 nm.
These lasers are designed with laser frequency locking applications in mind. The systems come equipped with two analog current modulation ports (DC and AC coupled) and an analog temperature modulation port. These modulation inputs can be used to lock the laser frequencies to optical cavities or referenced using servo electronics in order to build stable laser systems.
Features:
- High-Power Turnkey Single-Frequency Laser Systems in the C-Band
- Ultra-Low-Noise (ULN), Narrow-Linewidth Laser System:
- 100 Hz Typical Linewidth, 70 dB typical SMSR
- RIN of -160 dBc/Hz
- Discontinuous Mode-Hop-Free Regions 20 mA to 50 mA Wide
- Temperature Tuning Range of 0.32 nm with Simultaneous Current Tuning
- Distributed Feedback (DFB) Laser System:
- 50 kHz Typical Linewidth, 50 dB Typical Side-Mode Suppression Ratio (SMSR)
- Relative Intensity Noise (RIN) of -150 dBc/Hz
- Continuous Mode-Hop-Free Operating Current Region
- Temperature Tuning Range of 2 nm
- Low-Noise Drive Electronics to Minimize RIN and Linewidth
- Analog Modulation Inputs for DC Current, AC Current, and Laser Temperature
- Integrated Isolator to Minimize Effects of Back-Reflected Light
- Remote Operation and Set-Point Adjustment with Command-Line Interface via USB 2.0
Applications
- Optical Reference Laser
- LIDAR/LADAR
- Fiber Optic Sensing
- Quantum Optics
- Atomic Clocks
- Rubidium Cooling
Thorlabs' ULN15TK Turnkey, Ultra-Low-Noise (ULN) Laser System
- 100 Hz Typical Lorentzian Linewidth
- -160 dBc/Hz Typical Relative Intensity Noise (RIN)
- 70 dB Typical Side-Mode Suppression Ratio (SMSR)
- 120 mW Typical Output Power
Thorlabs' ULN15TK Turnkey, Ultra-Low-Noise (ULN) Laser System is a ready-to-use laser system that integrates our ULN15PC laser, which has a patented fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based design, with a low-noise driver and temperature stabilization inside of a benchtop housing. The temperature of the laser case is stabilized through a third temperature stabilization circuit to provide long-term power and wavelength stability when the system is used in standard laboratory environments. Specific wavelengths within the center wavelength range, including 1560 nm for frequency doubling to access rubidium transitions, are available upon request.
The ULN15TK laser system provides exceptionally narrow Lorentzian linewidth (typ. 100 Hz) and record low RIN (typ. -160 dBc/Hz) for applications that require demanding noise performance. The ULN design is based on a hybrid external-cavity semiconductor laser employing a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) for feedback to the laser cavity. As a result, the mode-hop-free single-frequency regions of the ULN are not continuous as the laser current is adjusted. Each mode-hop-free single-frequency region is typically limited to 20 mA to 50 mA of drive current. The ULN wavelength can be adjusted via both current adjustment of the chip and temperature adjustment of the FBG. In order to maintain single-frequency operation as the temperature is tuned over a broad range, the laser current needs to be adjusted simultaneously.
Thorlabs' DFB15TK Turnkey, Low-Noise Distributed Feedback (DFB) Laser System
- 50 kHz Typical Lorentzian Linewidth
- -150 dBc/Hz Typical Relative Intensity Noise (RIN)
- Continuous Mode-Hop-Free Single Frequency Operation
- 2 nm Temperature Tuning Range
Thorlabs' DFB15TK Turnkey, Low-Noise Distributed Feedback (DFB) Laser System is a ready-to-use laser system that integrates our DFB1550P with a low-noise driver and temperature stabilization inside of a benchtop housing. Each DFB laser system ships with individual test data; click here for a sample data sheet.
The DFB design allows a broad mode-hop-free single-frequency operation region (350 mA to 1000 mA), while maintaining a narrow 50 kHz Lorentzian linewidth and a typical relative intensity noise (RIN) of -150 dBc/Hz. Wavelength tuning can be accomplished by adjusting the current or the temperature of the laser chip, with typical temperature tuning of up to 2 nm (with the chip temperature adjusted by 20 °C). The DFB15TK will remain single-frequency as the temperature is tuned without the need to simultaneously adjust the current.