Thorlabs' single-frequency, turnkey, low-noise laser systems at 1310 nm are ready-to-use laser systems that integrate 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.
Highlights:
- High-Power, Turnkey, Single-Frequency Laser Systems at 1310 nm
- Low-Noise Drive Electronics to Minimize RIN and Linewidth
- 20 MHz Current Modulation Bandwidth
- Linewidths as Low as 150 Hz Available
The ULN13TK 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 150 Hz and the lowest available RIN of -160 dBc/Hz. When factory-set for optimized performance, this laser offers typical optical output powers of 120 mW with a side-mode suppression ratio (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.
While the center wavelength for Item # ULN13TK is listed as 1310 nm, this is only a typical number. The center wavelength of a particular unit varies from production run to production run, so the unit you receive may not operate at the typical center wavelength.
The DFB13TK laser is based on a distributed feedback (DFB) diode, which incorporates a grating structure along the length of the gain medium of the laser chip, providing single-frequency emission with typical relative intensity noise (RIN) of -150 dBc/Hz and typical linewidths of 100 kHz. Factory-set for optimized performance, this laser offers a minimum output power of 100 mW with an SMSR of 50 dB. This design allows for a broad, mode-hop-free, single-frequency operation range (50 mA to 500 mA). The DFB13TK 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 1.6 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 O-Band
- Ultra-Low-Noise (ULN), Narrow-Linewidth Laser System (US patents: 10193306, 10483718, 10476233, and 10454248):
- 150 Hz Typical Linewidth, 70 dB typical SMSR
- Relative Intensity Noise (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:
- 100 kHz Typical Linewidth, 50 dB Typical Side-Mode Suppression Ratio (SMSR)
- RIN of -150 dBc/Hz
- Continuous Mode-Hop-Free Operating Current Region
- Temperature Tuning Range of 1.6 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
- Coherent Communications
Narrow-Linewidth Ultra-Low-Noise Laser System (image above)
- 150 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' ULN13TK Turnkey, Ultra-Low-Noise (ULN) Laser System is a ready-to-use laser system that integrates 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 are available upon request.
The ULN13TK laser system provides exceptionally narrow Lorentzian linewidth (typ. 150 Hz) and the lowest available 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 (see Figure). 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.
The system comes equipped with two analog current modulation ports (AC and DC coupled) and an analog temperature modulation port, which can be used to lock the laser frequency to optical cavities or a reference using servo electronics in order to build stable laser systems. Remote operation is possible by connecting the laser to a PC and using a command line interface.
This graph shows the typical single mode operating regions for a ULN13TK laser system operated at a fiber Bragg grating temperature (TFBG) of 30 °C. Multimode regions have been removed.
Low-noise DFB Laser System
- Low-Noise DFB Laser System
- 100 kHz Typical Lorentzian Linewidth
- -150 dBc/Hz Typical Relative Intensity Noise (RIN)
- Continuous Mode-Hop-Free Single Frequency Operation
- 1.6 nm Temperature Tuning Range
Thorlabs' DFB13TK Turnkey, Low-Noise Distributed Feedback (DFB) Laser System is a ready-to-use laser system that integrates a 1310 nm DFB laser with a low-noise driver inside of a benchtop housing. See the info icon () in Table G2.2 for typical performance specifications. Each DFB laser system is serialized and 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 (50 mA to 500 mA), while maintaining a narrow 100 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 1.6 nm (with the chip temperature adjusted by 20 °C). The DFB13TK will remain single-frequency as the temperature is tuned without the need to simultaneously adjust the current.
The system comes equipped with two analog current modulation ports (AC and DC coupled) and an analog temperature modulation port, which can be used to lock the laser frequency to optical cavities or referenced using servo electronics in order to build stable laser systems. Remote operation is possible by connecting the laser to a PC and using a command line interface.
The optical output of this laser is fiber-coupled via an FC/APC bulkhead (2.0 mm narrow key) output connector. For best performance, we recommend connecting our PM FC/APC fiber patch cables that contain PM1300-XP fiber. Each laser is shipped with a DS12 power supply; see the Shipping List tab for a complete list of items included with the device.
Example temperature and current tuning for a DFB13TK laser system operated at the factory-set conditions.
| Key Specification Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item # | ULN13TK | DFB13TK |
| Typical Linewidth | 150 Hz | 100 kHz |
| Typical RIN | -160 dBc/Hz | -150 dBc/Hz |
| Mode-Hop-Free Single-Frequency Operating Current Region |
Discontinuousa | Continuousb |
| Temperature Tuning Range | 0.32 nmc | 1.6 nmd |
| AC Current Modulation Depth | ±10 mA | ±50 mA |
| DC Current Modulation Depth | ±10 mA | ±10 mA |