Tunable lasers are laser light sources designed to emit coherent light at large range of wavelengths. Simply put, this ability to “tune” wavelenghts makes these lasers particularly useful in many applications requiring great flexibility and performance optimization. As such, tunable lasers are commonly used for spectroscopy, interferometry, microscopy applications and writing of Holographic Optical Elements (HOE). More recently, we have seen their rise within quantum research.
There exist various types of tunable lasers, each achieving tunability through distinct mechanisms. While these lasers offer notable advantages, attaining and maintaining precise and reliable tunability poses challenges. For instance, one common issue with tunable lasers is their tendency to mode hop, which is the jump between wavelengths as the user attempts to tune the laser. However, aside from mode hopping, other issues that should be accounted for when operating tunable lasers can include mechanical stability, wavelength accuracy, and temperature sensitivity.
In conventional laser setup, a pump source is required, typically a high pump laser, along with a suitable gain medium and placed in an optical resonator to reach the lasing threshold. However, for a tunable laser, selecting an appropriate gain medium with a suitable energy level structure becomes challenging.
For instance, dye lasers cover a broad wavelength range, albeit not with a single dye. This limitation can be inconvenient for applications demanding extensive tunability. Lasers based on Titanium Sapphire crystals cover the red (700 nanometers and longer) and when frequency doubled, the blue (50 to 500 nanometers) in the visible spectrum. Achieving coverage between 500 and 700 nanometers requires frequency mixing with an additional laser beam, resulting in a complex and cumbersome setup. Consequently, choices for conventionally tunable lasers across the visible range are limited, despite the potential benefits in experimental quantum research.
Herein lies the alternative approach from HÜBNER Photonics: leveraging optic parametric oscillators (OPOs) to transform readily available single-frequency laser light into a large wavelength range in the IR and visible range. While the concept of optical parametric conversion is not new and has been experimentally demonstrated for over half a century, recent advancements in high-performance lasers and crystals have facilitated the realization of practical and commercially viable device designs.
At HÜBNER Photonics we have commercialised OPO technology to transform single-frequency laser light into the visible spectrum. OPOs are light sources that deliver coherent radiations similar to lasers but with fundamental technical differences regarding their concept.
OPOs are used to convert one fixed wavelength input laser [OP1] beam of lower wavelength into two separate beams, offering a large range of wavelengths available, usually in the infrared range. After converting these back into the visible range with a Second Harmonic Generation process, OPOs can be used as flexible, tunable sources for laser light in the visible range
OPO technology has the advantage of a very high level of side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) within just a few cm-1 away from the main peak since there is no amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in the parametric process, making this technology very well suited to applications such as Brillouin scattering and Raman spectroscopy.
At HÜBNER Photonics we have developed OPO solution for CW & pulsed Q-switched source which cover VIS – MIR wavelength ranges.
The C-WAVE is the tunable laser light source for continuous-wave (cw) single frequency emission in the visible and near-infrared wavelength ranges. Its technology is based on optical parametric oscillation (OPO) and it is fully computer controlled. Thus, it allows the user to tune from blue to red and into the infrared without any change of dyes or optical components. This makes C-WAVE a flexible and user-friendly laser for your applications. Choose between C-WAVE (VIS & IR), and C-WAVE GTR (VIS & NIR).
The Cobolt Odin™ Series is an ultra-compact and industrial-grade mid-IR source based on a fully contained temperature tunable Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) with integrated pump laser. Periodically poled nonlinear optical crystals are used for efficient and spectrally flexible generation of mid-IR emission. Available with fixed center wavelengths nm, nm, & nm, tunable 50 nm.
The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 103 suppliers for tunable lasers. Among them:
For researchers demanding wide tuning range, high conversion efficiency and narrow linewidth, EKSPLA tunable wavelength lasers are an excellent choice. All models feature hands-free wavelength tuning, valuable optical components protection system as well as wide range of accessories and extension units.
EKSPLA's long-term experience and close cooperation with scientific institutions made it possible to create a wide range of models, offering probably the widest tuning range: from 193 nm to nm. Versions offering near transform limited linewidth as well as operating at kilohertz repetition rates are available.
Our tunable pulsed fiber laser is a turn-key solution with tunable wavelengths in the 1-, 1.3-, 1.5-, 1.7- and 2-μm spectral region with moderate output power. Pulse durations can be between a few picoseconds to milliseconds. The center wavelength is controlled with a a user-friendly computer interface through the USB port.
Our tunable CW laser sources can perform continuous scanning over up to 100 nm tuning range at various center wavelengths from 780 to nm. Both manual and electrical tuning versions are available.
By combining the LEUKOS supercontinuum source Rock with the widely tunable filter BEBOP, you obtain a light source which can be tuned from the near UV to the infrared.
Innolume provides precision-engineered tunable light sources that emit narrow-band, coherent light with continuously adjustable wavelengths across a broad spectral range.
Built around a compact gain chip in an external cavity with optical elements such as diffraction gratings or tunable filters, these sources offer precise wavelength control by dynamically adjusting optical feedback to the gain medium. With tunability of up to 160 nm across the 780 nm to nm range, they are ideally suited for applications requiring spectral flexibility and accuracy.
Designed for efficient integration, our tunable sources are available with fully customizable wavelength options to meet specific system requirements in various packaging formats:
The SuperK CHROMATUNE is the World’s broadest tunable laser. It gives you an unmatched, gap-free tuning range from 400– nm. SuperK CHROMATUNE is a fiber laser that ensures excellent reliability and a lifetime of thousands of hours. It requires no maintenance or service, no alignment or adjustments. It is easy to use and lets you focus on your work.
The Q-scan from Lumibird is a high resolution tunable nanosecond dye laser ranging from 200 nm to 4.5 µm. Dye cells are "plug & play" and nonlinear crystals are controlled via integrated look-up tables for quick and easy scans.
GWU-Lasertechnik has more than 30 years of experience in lasers and nonlinear optics. We are the pioneer of commercial BBO OPO technology. Our widely tunable laser sources cover the spectral range from the deep-UV at <190 nm to the IR at > nm continuously. We offer pulsed solutions for nano-, pico- and femtosecond pulses with best performance and highest reliability. Our rugged all-solid-state Laser technology does not require any consumable supplies and is thus providing most convenient usability, longest lifetime and excellent total costs of ownership. With a vast flexibility and a huge versatility, GWU’s laser products can serve the needs even for the most demanding scientific and industrial applications.
HÜBNER Photonics offer tunable lasers from 450 nm up to the MIR based on OPO technology in the Cobolt Odin Series and C-WAVE. Our C-WAVE tunable lasers are widely tunable continuous wave (cw), single frequency laser light sources based on optical parametric oscillator (OPO) technology. They are tunable from 450 nm to nm with powers up to 1 W.
The Cobolt Odin is a wavelength selectable laser which is tunable over up to 50 nm and operating at 10 kHz.
Serving North America, RPMC Lasers offers a selection of tunable lasers offering continual wavelength tuning from 210 nm to nm, with other configs spanning ≈210 nm – 10 µm, letting you choose a range that fits your needs and budget.
They feature precise, hands-free tuning with automated self-optimization and calibration, plus a browser GUI for remote control, diagnostics, and troubleshooting from any computer or smartphone.
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All-in-one, air-cooled, turnkey designs are compact and easy to set up, with no bulky chiller, saving space and effort, and pump diodes guaranteed for over 2 giga-shots of lifetime.
Let RPMC help you find the right laser today!
Sacher Lasertechnik offers scientific tunable diode lasers based on Littman/Metcalf or Littrow configurations. There are also high-power versions containing broad area lasers or tapered amplifiers.
The industrial Micron laser is a mode-hop free tunable external cavity laser for emission of up to 300 mW. Versions with emission wavelengths between 638 nm and nm are available.
Spectra Quest Lab offers tunable lasers providing mode-hop-free tuning over nearly the entire tunable range wider than 100 nm while suppressing ASE noise (SMSR > 80dB) and delivering high PM fiber output power at any wavelength model. Available from 880 nm to nm.
The high precision model λ-Master is suitable for laboratory use and has a data acquisition function that is synchronized with wavelength tuning.
The high scan rate model: λ-Rapid achieves scan rates of up to 600 nm/s, making it suitable for frequency domain measurements such as OFDR. It is compact and can be installed in instruments.
λ-Lock is a manual tuning model.
All models have an analog wavelength tuning function using PZT and LD current modulation function (bandwidth: 5 MHz).
Quantifi Photonics' Laser Series is a fully-compliant micro-ITLA laser with up to four channels in a compact benchtop or PXI form factor. It offers 0.01 pm resolution tunability across C or L bands, exceptional power accuracy up to 16.5 dBm, and optional dither suppression. It is a versatile and cost-effective general-purpose instrument.
The tunable picosecond laser source picoEmerald FT emits ultrashort pulses with a duration of 2 ps (other durations possible). The system features a fast wavelength tuning capability (1.5 s for a random tuning step). Key features:
The wavelength ranges can be easily expanded down to the ultraviolet/visible (via APEs SHG/THG/FHG devices) and up to the mid-infrared (via APEs DFG devices).
Thorlabs produces a variety of benchtop and rack-mounted tunable laser sources with wide tuning ranges in the C-, L-, or O-band. Our microelectromechanical system (MEMS) tunable vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) are available with a center wavelength of nm or nm and feature a 100 nm sweep range. These lasers are ideal for high-speed and long-range optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems requiring superior sensitivity.
VEXLUM's products utilize VECSEL technology for tunable narrow-linewidth operation. Typical tuning ranges are ±1 nm, extending up to 100 nm at IR wavelengths. For more information, please contact us.
LIGHT CONVERSION has worldwide recognition for its industrial-grade Yb-based PHAROS, CARBIDE, and FLINT femtosecond lasers.
Together, these products cover a wide range of scientific, industrial, and medical applications.
All Radiantis lasers are broadly tunable lasers, specially designed for the scientific community. Femtosecond and picosecond pulses as well as continuous-wave (CW) temporal regimes are offered with automatic tuning across the UV, visible and IR.
DRS Daylight Solutions offers a number of wavelength-tunable quantum cascade lasers:
Introducing our CoBrite tunable narrow linewidth laser ecosystem for nm to nm. Designed with simplicity and versatility in mind, CoBrite offers multiple chassis options and laser variants, making it an essential tool for researchers in the lab and on the production floor. With tunability options in the C-band, L-band, or C+L band, from a single source or in configurations of more than 100 ports, there's a CoBrite configuration to suit virtually every application. We keep expanding the CoBrite ecosystem to address new applications and market requirements when they arise.
Alpes Lasers designs and manufactures single-mode mid-IR lasers with wavelength tuning of up to 40 cm−1. We offer fast tuning over a wide range of wavelengths with our QC-ET product line, and extremely wide tuning with our QC-XT lasers.
TOPTICA offers various tunable diode laser systems. The combined spectral coverage is from 190 nm to nm, powers up to 4 W (TA), mode-hop-free tuning over up to 110 nm (CTL).
TOPTICA´s CLS ultrastable clock laser systems are diode lasers whose linewidth is reduced to less than 1 Hz via frequency stabilization to high-finesse optical ULE cavities. The CLS is designed to maintain its exceptional frequency stability also under out-of-the lab conditions. Its robust design, excellent passive shielding and active vibration compensation make it resilient towards external acoustic and seismic vibrations
The Stuttgart Instruments Alpha is an ultrafast and fully wavelength-tunable frequency conversion system in an ultra-compact and completely passively stable system based on revolutionary parametric oscillator design which guarantees outstanding stability, reproducibility and shot-noise limited performance.
The revolutionary design of Stuttgart Instruments Alpha, characterized by outstanding low noise and passive long-term stability, is based on the fiber-feedback optical parametric oscillator (FFOPO) technology and results in outstanding performance and high flexibility at the same time.
The Alpha covers a gap-free rapid tunable spectral range from 700 nm to 20 µm wavelengths, while maintaining high output power up to the Watt-level with femto- or picosecond pulses at several MHz pulse repetition rates. It provides multiple simultaneously tunable outputs with a selectable bandwidth from a few to 100 cm-1. Shot-noise limited performance above 300 kHz, passive spectral stability (< 0.02% rms) and wavelength-independent stable beam pointing (< 30 µrad) enable excellent sensitivity. In addition, each Alpha is equipped with a user-friendly ethernet and Wi-Fi interface and a matching graphical user interface (GUI) as well as easy to access API interfaces for e.g. LabView, Python, C++.
Typically, the Alpha is pumped by an ultra-low-noise Primus pump laser, which provides more than 8 W average output power at nm wavelength and 450 fs pulse duration at 42 MHz repetition rate. In addition, the Alpha can be operated with other pump lasers around 1 µm wavelength and enough power.