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Introducing the NEW Unicorn™ II Fixed Wavelength Lasers

Daylight Solutions is pleased to present the next generation of fixed-wavelength lasers: The Unicorn™ II Series

We have reinvented the fixed-wavelength laser with a series of innovations that mean better performance from the new Unicorn™ II laser.  A more robust and stable resonator structure means better linewidth and wavelength stability as environmental conditions vary.  The new HFQD control electronics (High-Fidelity QCL Drive) allow for increased repetition rates and longer pulses while providing more protection for the gain chip.   HFQD also includes an improved modulation circuit offering wider bandwidth of modulation frequencies from DC to 2 MHz.  More stability, more control, more robust – the new Unicorn™ II.

  • Tunable Laser Controller
  • Tunable Laser Controller (back)
  • Tunable Laser Controller (front)

Features


  • Fixed-wavelength
  • Expanded modulation functionality
  • Accurate wavelength set
  • Low wavelength drift
  • High-power
  • Expanded repetition rate, pulse width, and duty cycles
  • Pulsed and/or cw operation
  • No cryogenic cooling

Benefits


  • Easy to operate
  • Flexible modes to enhance signal
  • On target for application
  • Continued functionality
  • Signal to spare
  • Improved signal to noise
  • Flexible for many experiments
  • Convenient & economical

Product Details


We have reinvented the fixed-wavelength laser with a series of innovations that mean better performance from the new Unicorn™ II laser. A more robust and stable resonator structure means better linewidth and wavelength stability as environmental conditions vary. The new HFQD control electronics (High-Fidelity QCL Drive) allow for increased repetition rates and longer pulses while providing more protection for the gain chip*. HFQD also includes an improved modulation circuit offering wider bandwidth of modulation frequencies from DC to 2 MHz. More stability, more control, more robust – the new Unicorn™ II.

The Unicorn™ II platform has been designed and now redesigned for flexibility and performance. The available wavelengths span the mid-IR spectrum from 3.5 μm to 10.4 μm and the wavelength is factory set to an accuracy of ±30 GHz (±1 cm-1). Most systems can run in both pulsed and cw modes putting modulation schemes and maximum power at your fingertips. Power in excess of 500 mW with a single QC chip is available.

Brought to you by the world’s leading experts in tunable mid-infrared lasers, these sources are small and stable benchtop instruments. Simple and effective thermal management means that in pulsed mode, no external cooling is required and only with cw operation does the Unicorn™ II require water cooling. No cryogenic cooling ever!

The design is based on our award-winning CW-Pulsed tunable laser platform. Daylight Solutions is the leader in ECqcL™ (External Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser) Technology. We have used our design experience to offer you the most reliable, most flexible fixed-wavelength system to date. A current modulation input circuit offers fast control over the output amplitude and even 0.1 cm-1 of frequency modulation. Laser control is through the easy-to-use front panel controller display. Remote communication with the controller is also available with a PC through RS-232, GPIB, and USB interfaces.

Please contact us to learn how the Unicorn™ II laser platform can meet your application needs today. Pricing and performance at specific wavelengths are only a phone call away.

* Overall performance is gain chip-dependent. Contact the factory to determine full capabilities at your wavelength.

 

Specifications



Overall Performance
Operation Mode
 Pulsed and cw1
Peak Wavelengths2 (units in μm) 3.5, 3.8, 4.0, 4.2, 4,4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.9, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 7.4, 7.8, 8.1, 8.8, 9.5, 10.4
Wavelength Set-point Accuracy ±1 cm-1
Beam Divergence
 <5 mrad
Beam Pointing Stability
 <50 µrad
Polarization Linear, Vertical, 100:1
Beam Spacial Mode
 TEM00
Beam M2
 ≤1.3
Spot Size <2.5 mm (1/e point)
Beam Waist
 30-50 cm from exit port
CW Performance
Power3 Depends on wavelength, typically >100 mW
CW Linewidth4 ≤100 MHz
Wavelength Drift ≤0.5 cm-1/8 hr  within operating temperature range
Current Modulation Bandwidth5 DC to 2 MHz
Current Modulation Amplitude Depth
 >50%
Current Modulation Frequency Depth ~0.05 cm-1
Pulsed Performance
Pulsed Linewidth ≤1 cm-1
Peak Power1 Depends on wavelength, typically >100 mW
Minimum Average Power (pulsed)1
 Depends on wavelength, typically >5 mW
Pulsewidths6,7 40-500 ns
Repetition Rate5,8 0.1-100 kHz
Maximum Duty Cycle4 5%
Power Variation (pulse-to-pulse)9 <2% rms
Control Specifications
Control Interface 1002-FLC Laser Controller10
Triggering Capabilities
 Internal and external trigger, external pulse input
External Control Interfaces
 USB 2.0, GPIB, RS-323
Operation Specifications
Operating Temperature 15-35 °C
Operating Humidity 10-90% RH, non-condensing
Cooling (pulsed)11 Passive air
Cooling (cw)7 Water12
Power Requirements 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, 1φ
Mechanical Specifications
Head Dimensions 5.50” × 3.45” × 3.31” L × W × H
Controller Dimensions 10.51” × 8.50” × 4.00” L × W × H

All specifications subject to change without notice. As it is difficult to specify exact performance for a family of lasers with a single data column, these values may vary slightly from wavelength to wavelength. Please contact the factory to discuss the key performance parameters of the specific system that will provide results for you.

1 Some wavelengths only available in pulsed operation.

2 Values listed are the peak of the gain curve for available QC gain chips. Essentially all wavelengths from 3.5–10.4 μm are available. Contact factory for performance of system at your wavelength of choice.

3 Contact factory for power at your wavelength.

4 Averaged over 200 ms.

5 Current modulation in pulsed mode is not advised.

6 Some gain chips can support longer or shorter pulsewidths, higher repetition rates, and/or duty cycles.  Contact factory for your specific needs.
 
7 20 ns increments.

8 0.1 kHz increments.

9 Measured over 1 hour interval.

10 The Unicorn™ II laser heads are only compatible with HFQD-enabled controllers

11 No cryogenic cooling required

12 ~50 W capacity water cooling

 

Industries & Applications


Scientific
  • DIAL & LIDAR
  • Imaging
  • OPO seeding
  • Detector Calibration

Defense
  • Stand-off detection
  • Infrared countermeasures (IRCM) research
  • Illumination
  • Remote sensing
Environmental
  • Atmospheric research
  • DIAL & LIDAR
  • Gas leak and toxic industrial chemical (TIC) detection
  • Green house gas monitoring

Industrial
  • TIC & gas leak detection
  • Remote stack monitoring