There is one common word to all of the product lines offered by Lightspeed Technologies and that is precision.  Many of the products offered by Lightspeed Technologies relate to optical metrology and we want to take the opportunity of highlighting these products in the December newsletter.  These measurement capabilities include wavefront measurements, laser beam profiling, fiber analysis, spectral analysis, ultrafast laser pulse measurements, and calibration light sources.  These instruments fit right in with our precision product lines.

Wavefront Sensors and Laser Beam Profilers

  Wavefront sensing and laser beam profiling are complicated measurements but simplified by the use of software that has been developed over many years by top experts in their field.  Lightspeed offers two outstanding products, one is a Shack-Hartmann style wavefront sensor from Laser-Laboratorium Göttingen (LLG) and one is a diffraction based system from Arden Photonics. Each has certain advantages for wavefront measurements.

  The LLG wavefront sensor can be used for measurements from 190nm to 1100nm making it a great tool for deep UV measurements or in a laboratory where there are many lasers or harmonic systems or characterization of optics at wavelength.  It can be configured as a laser beam profiler alone or interchangeable as a laser beam profiler and wavefront sensor.  Other unique capabilities of the system are that it can be used to stabilize beam pointing and also can be used for damage testing of UV optics.  There is even a wavefront sensor available for measurements at 13.5nm.

   The Arden Photonics AWS-50 is a diffraction based measurement that offers the highest spatial resolution and is insensitive to vibration.  This system captures multiple images simultaneously providing the most accurate laser beam measurements, including pulsed lasers, in addition to characterizing optical components and systems with high resolution.

Analysis of Optical Fibers

   Now we are pleased to offer more metrology tools from Arden Photonics. The VF-20 - Michelson interferometer produces large clear images of cleaved or polished fiber ends and other small optical components.  MPX-1 modal explorer provides real-time measurements of Mode Transfer Function, Encircled Flux, Coupled Power Ratio, and Mode Power Distribution.  The "ModCon" Modal Controller is designed to ensure that whatever source you use to test the loss and bandwidth of your multimode optical fiber network, LED, Laser, OTDR or white light, you launch the same distribution of modes into the fiber.

Spectral Analysis 

   The SPM series of fiber coupled spectrometers from Photon Control offer extremely high resolution measurements to 0.12 nanometers. Broadband configurations offer a measurement range from 200 to 1100nm.  UV configurations measure to <190nm.  Software includes bandwidth and center peak wavelength measurements in addition to transmission, reflectance, and absorption.  Accessories include a fiber coupled Mercury-Argon calibration lamp and broadband fiber coupled light sources.

Light Sources 

   The Lightspeed Technologies HPLS series of high intensity LEDs offers several opportunities for optical metrology.  The optical output can be calibrated for a direct relation to current input for intensity measurements on solar cells or for sensitive detectors such as photomultipliers or avalanche photodiodes.  The spectral output of these LEDs is also handy for characterization of optical components when a specific wavelength range is required in the visible region.

Ultrafast Laser Pulse Measurement 

   The TIMEWARP from Elliot Scientific is a simple and compact autocorrelator for measuring pulse duration of modelocked femtosecond lasers from 700-1250 nm.   The TIMEWARP autocorrelator is based on the proven Michelson interferometer configuration for splitting an incoming pulse train into two daughter trains which produce the autocorrelation signal when recombined on a detector.

Other Precision Products

    I can't resist mentioning some of our other products that might not fit in with the category of optical metrology but are also notable for their precision:

QMACS - Measures gas concentrations to parts per billion.  Measure vapor and plasmas to new accuracies.

Flexure Stages - The most stable and best priced flexure stages available for aligning fibers, waveguides, SOAs and components.  Options include fiber launching and automated systems.

Long Travel Piezo Stages - up to 48mm travel with 15nm resolution.  Closed loop configurations return to a position within 50nm.  Configurations include integrated XYZ, kinematic mount, monomode launch.   Vacuum and Cryogenic options.

Please contact me for more information and visit us at Photonics West.  We'll be in booth #5076 in the foyer outside the main hall.

Best regards,

Randall

Randall Wilcox

Lightspeed Technologies

www.light-speed-tech.com

(408)761-0062

Lightspeed Technologies is proud to be representing the following companies:

New! Neoplas Control .  Quantum Cascade Laser Measurement and Control Systems (QMACS).

  Neoplas Control has commercialized a laser based absorption spectroscopy system for part per billion concentration measurements of vapors.  These systems have many applications including plasma monitoring, vapor monitoring, explosives detection, and more.

New! Laser-Laboratorium Göttingen (LLG) - Wavefront Sensors and laser beam profilers

  The LLG laser beam profiler / wavefront sensor is capable of measurements of laser beams from 190nm to 1100nm.  The system can be configured as a laser beam profiler or as a combination laser beam profiler and wavefront sensor.  Powerful software provides analysis of beam profile, wavefront, and can also be used to stabilize beam pointing.  Wavefront sensors are also available for measurements at 13.5nm!

New! Arden Photonics Ltd. - Fiber inspection and mode measurement

  We've teamed up with Arden previously to offer the AWS-50 wavefront sensor - Wavefront sensing insensitive to vibration and with higher spatial resolution than other wavefront sensors. Now we are offering their other metrology products as well.  The VF-20 - Michelson interferometer produces large clear images of cleaved or polished fiber ends and other small optical components.  MPX-1 modal explorer provides real-time measurements of Mode Transfer Function, Encircled Flux, Coupled Power Ratio, and Mode Power Distribution.

Elliot Scientific Ltd (ISO9001).  Precision Alignment for optics, fibers, detectors, lasers, microscopes, and more.

  The best flexure stages, fiber launching, mini stages, precise adjusters, automated alignment systems, optical tweezers and more.  Do you need mounts, stages, lens holders, and other alignment products labeled with your facility or project engraved permanently to identify them as yours?  We can meet your demand from single units to thousands.  Special configurations such as all axes adjusted from above or mini 5 and 6 axis alignment.

Photon Control Inc (ISO9001).  High resolution Spectrometers for Industry Science, and Education

   Photon Control rocked the spectroscopic world this year, reducing prices of high resolution spectrometers to less than $1800 where others charge more than twice as much for similar products.  The stand alone 'Specsoft' software, provides real time analysis and data capture in intensity transmission reflectance and absorption modes, as well as extensive data logging, and history review capabilities.  For OEM applications these are ready for the challenge having been used in industries as rugged as fiber optic instrumentation for the gas & oil industry.  Also available, the lowest cost plasma monitors on the market.  Other accessories include fiber coupled light sources, reflectance or custom probes, fibers, and transmission measurement tools.

Mechonics AG.  Long Travel, High Resolution Piezo Stages 

  Mechonics produces what appears to be the best kept secret that we want you to know about - Precision piezo stages with 15nm partial steps and up to 48mm travel!  These have the ease of use and low pricing that are expected from products supplied by Lightspeed Technologies.  X, XY, XYZ configurations ideal for microscope applications. Remote control of optics including kinematic tilt stages and integrated packages for the smallest footprint.  Vacuum options to 10E-10 torr and cryogenic configurations too.  Remote pendant or computer control with USB. 

SPI Lasers Ltd (ISO9001). - CW and Pulsed Fiber Lasers

  Fiber lasers from SPI are the most cost effective, reliable, and easy to use 1090nm and 1550nm lasers available.  Output from 2-200 Watts and M^2 of less than 1.1, these lasers are ready for applications from micromachining to optical trapping or to meet the requirements you might have for high quality IR.

Engineering Services

  Exceptional engineering services from making products RoHS compliant to designing and fabricating rapid prototypes and embedded systems.  We work with a first class design firm to offer customers the most cost effective, complete engineering services possible.  Contact us with your requirements for product development, program management, and system integration.

LEDs, Lamps, and Fiber Coupled light sources

  Lightspeed Technologies is supplies our own line of high intensity LED systems for scientific applications.  Applications include fluorescence imaging, solar simulation, solar cell testing, and optical metrology. Pulsed systems to <200ns increase optical intensity by greater than 8 times cw!