Aculight Improves "Argos" High-Power, Widely Tunable Laser System

Bothell, WA - Aculight Corporation, a leading developer of innovative laser technologies, introduces an improved Argos single-frequency, continuous-wave (CW) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). Argos provides multi-Watt, widely tunable output in the near- to mid-infrared wavelength range. It is ideal for use in photoacoustic and cavity-ringdown spectroscopy, atom trapping, chemical sensing and medical applications.

"Our redesigned Argos features an upgraded OPO head along with improved electronics," said Angus Henderson, Aculight principal scientist. "Improvements in the OPO head and in the control electronics have greatly enhanced wavelength stability. And like the original Argos, the new Argos provides customers with the highest power and broadest mode-hop-free tuning range of any OPO on the market. It's an enabling technology for many high-resolution spectroscopy applications."

Argos is a rugged, fiber-pumped, singly resonant OPO that provides continuous tuning from 1.4 to 2 microns and from 2.3 to 3.9 microns using three interchangeable, pre-aligned, wavelength converter modules. "We've shipped all three wavelength converter modules to customers in the U.S. and Europe and now have working units out in the field across our entire wavelength range," said Henderson, "Argos is producing high-quality, publishable data in a number of applications."

Because of its fiber-coupled pump source, Argos systems are highly robust. Unlike comparable tunable sources such as Ti:Sapphire or dye lasers, the units can be shipped to their destinations without requiring any re-alignment or expert installation. Argos operates at room temperature and produces simultaneous output at two wavelengths, with available power of more than a Watt over the tuning range. The linewidth of the OPO output has been measured as low as 60 kHz. In tandem with the device's 50 GHz mode-hop-free rapid tuning range, this enables high-resolution spectroscopy in a wavelength region where alternate laser sources are unavailable. Argos is also compact enough for use in facilities where space is at a premium-the OPO head measures just 4.9 x 7.5 x 13.9 inches with a control unit of 10 x 19 x 19 inches.

SOURCE: Aculight Corporation