APE

APE autocorrelators are used to measure the pulse duration of femtosecond and picosecond laser systems. The technology is based on either second harmonic generation (SHG) detection or two-photon absorption (TPA) detection principle.

APE autocorrelator models:

• pulseCheck: multitalent for any task
• Mini TPA: compact and tuning-free
• Mini PD: routine tasks with a fixed wavelength range
• Carpe: first choice for multiphoton microscopy

The APE femtoControl is a compact motorized dispersion compensation unit for optimization of the duration of femtosecond laser pulses in the spectral range of Ti:sapphire lasers.

femtoControl compensates for material dispersion by applying the inverse amount of dispersion to the pulse. This is generated by a pair of prisms on motorized translation stages allowing continuous adjustment of the pulse length.

For example, femtoControl can help to achieve more crisp and clearer microscope images especially for multi-photon microscopy.

Nonlinear frequency conversion in SHG crystals makes it possible to generate new shorter wavelengths from existing laser wavelengths. As part of our HarmoniXX product line, the HarmoniXX SHG is a frequency converter for the frequency doubling of ultrashort-pulse lasers.

The focus is on user-friendliness and a compact design. By featuring a quick exchange of optics, the HarmoniXX Second Harmonic Generation device can be used for a wide pulse duration range, from femtoseconds (fs) to several picoseconds (ps).

See our specifications for more details.

The HarmoniXX FHG – Fourth Harmonic Generation – is a frequency converter for quadrupling the frequency of ultrashort pulse lasers.

The focus is on user-friendliness and a compact design. By featuring a quick exchange of optics, the HarmoniXX devices can be used for a wide pulse duration range, from femtoseconds (fs) to several picoseconds (ps). All units are optimized for highest conversion efficiency at various laser power levels. They also display minimum pulse broadening while maintaining good spatial beam profile.

For more details, see our specifications.

As part of our HarmoniXX product line, the HarmoniXX THG is a frequency converter for tripling the frequency of ultra short-pulse lasers.

Unlike conventional triplers, the HarmoniXX THG requires less adjustment efforts, because no separation and recombination of the interacting beams is needed. This user-friendly feature has one common optical beam path for all interacting beams. It is implemented by means of a proprietary delay compensator and provides consistent spatial overlap for optimum efficiency.

For more details, see our specifications.

Second Harmonic Generation FROG is the most popular spectrometer-less Frequency-Resolved Optical Gating method. Most of the pulseCheck autocorrelators by APE optionally integrate FROG and give access to complete pulse characterization. The addition of a special nonlinear crystal module and dedicated software opens the door to complete spectral and temporal pulse characterization. The FROG Option enables the pulseCheck to measure the spectral and temporal bandwidth and phase with just a few adjustments to the autocorrelator.

The FROG Option consists of FROG crystal(s), a plane FROG mirror and FROG measurement and retrieval software.

Our mid-IR tunable broadband light source is fully automated and designed to be highly customizable to deliver turn-key solutions meeting your specific needs. It is based on a 1 µm pump laser operating at 76 MHz, which drives an optical parametric oscillator (OPO, Levante IR fs).

The OPO generates signal and idler in the range of 1.32 µm to 4.8 µm. Both beams can be mixed in a Difference Frequency Generator (DFG, HarmoniXX DFG), providing access to wavelengths up to 15 µm. Moreover, such a light source can be extended with additional APE devices, such as wavelength converters, pulse pickers or pulse slicers, to further enhance its capabilities in terms of wavelength range, repetition rate adjustment or spectral bandwidth narrowing.

The waveScan MIR is a rotating grating spectrometer. This technology enables it to cover a wide wavelength range from 1500 nm to 6300 nm. The device is extremely cost-efficient and features a spectral resolution of below 3 nm. Pulsed lasers with repetition rates from cw down to 100 Hz can characterized. The quick and easy exchangeable input port adapts the waveScan to free-space or fiber lasers. The software offers useful analytical tools and easy data export. The waveScan is also ideal for automatization and long term measurements and can be controlled remotely by USB or TCP/IP.

The principle task of the spectrum slicer (or laser monochromator) pulseSlicer is to cut out a very narrow spectral part of an ultrashort laser pulse. Essentially, it acts as a tunable bandpass filter. For example, it can be used as a simple solution for narrowing broadband laser pulses.

Features of our pulseSlicer:

• easily variable output bandwidth / pulse duration
• automatisation available

APE offers well engineered devices for nonlinear frequency conversion of picosecond and femtosecond pulses, including:

• frequency doubling
• frequency tripling
• frequency quadrupling
• difference frequency generation

Also, we offer optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers. The accessible wavelength range spans from 190 nm up to 15 µm, with femtosecond or picosecond pulse durations.

The APE ScanDelay is a variable optical delay line, allowing the introduction of a well-defined time delay into an optical path – for example, for pump–probe measurements. The delay is periodically controlled by a fast scanning shaker at a frequency of up to 20 Hz.

The heart of APE’s optical delay line series is a special linear translation stage that is supplied together with appropriate control and drive electronics. The linear drive has been designed especially for optical applications. It combines low moving mass with compactness, reaching a high speed, as well as high precision and resolution. The delay drive has frictionless movement, a large and precise travel range, and it allows for very small displacements without any stick-slip-effects.

The control electronic contains the motion driver and a quartz stabilized signal synthesizer. It can be synchronized with an external clock for a precise, phase-locked scanner movement.

AVUS is the very latest Optical Parametric Amplifier (OPA) providing widely tunable high-energy pulses. It is ideal for use with 1-μm femtosecond lasers and opens doors for up to 50 W pump power. The user-friendly and maintenance-free unit is air-cooled and constructed with a monolithic case design for long-term thermal stability, even at maximum pump power. Versions with pulse durations <200 fs or alternatively <70 fs are available.

APE offers a wide range of ultrafast optical parametric oscillators (OPOs), which can be pumped with 1-μm lasers or with Ti:sapphire lasers. Wide wavelength regions in the near and mid-IR can be addressed, pulse durations in the picosecond or femtosecond region are available, and pulse repetition rates can be in the megahertz or gigahertz region.

The wavelength ranges can be easily expanded down to the ultraviolet/visible (via APEs SHG/THG/FHG devices) and up to 15 µm (via APEs DFG devices).

The picosecond laser source picoEmerald emits ultra-short pulses with a duration of 2 picoseconds (other durations possible). The wavelength tuning of the ps laser is fully automated across a tuning range of 700 to 990 nm (signal) and 1080 nm to 1950 nm (idler). The fundamental beam at 1032 nm is also available. A wavelength scan / sweep function for fast spectra acquisition over certain specific wavelengths is included.

The key-facts of the picoEmerald are:

• wavelength 1 IR beam 1032 nm
• wavelength 2 tunable 700 … 990 nm
• wavelength 3 tunable 1080 … 1950 nm
• 80 MHz pulse repetition rate
• temporal and spatial overlap of the output wavelengths
• integrated time delay between the wavelengths
• common output port for all beams
• fully automated wavelength tuning
• EOM optionally integrated

APE offers a range of products for pulse characterization in the picosecond and femtosecond domain:

• autocorrelators
• FROG
• SPIDER
• spectrometers

The APE femtoControl is a compact motorized dispersion compensation unit for compressing femtosecond laser pulses in the spectral range of Ti:sapphire lasers, as well as for 2P and 3P microscopy (options for e.g. 1300 nm, 1700 nm, and up to 2500 nm possible.

femtoControl compensates for material dispersion by applying the inverse amount of dispersion to the pulse. This is generated by a pair of prisms on motorized translation stages allowing continuous adjustment of the pulse length.

For example, femtoControl can help to achieve more crisp and clearer microscope images especially for multi-photon microscopy.

APE autocorrelators are used to measure the pulse duration of femtosecond and picosecond laser systems. The technology is based on either second harmonic generation (SHG) detection or two-photon absorption (TPA) detection principle.

APE Autocorrelator Models:

• pulseCheck: multitalent for any task
• Mini TPA: compact and tuning-free
• Mini PD: routine tasks with a fixed wavelength range
• Carpe: first choice for multiphoton microscopy

pulseSelect is an acousto-optic pulse picker, developed for the special demands of femtosecond laser technology. Pulse distortion is minimized by a low dispersive design and the use of reflective optics. High repetition rates and high contrast rates are achieved by using acousto-optical elements. The pulse repetition rate can be reduced by an adjustable internal frequency divider or by external triggering.

APE offers pulse pickers for either a wavelength range from 500 nm to 1600 nm or dual wavelength bands from 340 nm to 540 nm and from 680 nm to 1080 nm.

The APE ScanDelay is a variable optical delay line, allowing the introduction of a well-defined time delay into an optical path – for example, for pump–probe measurements. The delay is periodically controlled by a fast scanning shaker at a frequency of up to 20 Hz.

The heart of APE’s optical delay line series is a special linear translation stage that is supplied together with appropriate control and drive electronics. The linear drive has been designed especially for optical applications. It combines low moving mass with compactness, reaching a high speed, as well as high precision and resolution. The delay drive moves frictionless, has a large and precise travel range, and allows for very small displacements without any stick-slip-effects.

The control electronic contains the motion driver and a quartz stabilized signal synthesizer. It can be synchronized with an external clock for a precise, phase-locked scanner movement.

The picoEmerald system facilitates Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopy for non-invasive label-free imaging. SRS microscopy provides almost background-free imaging contrast. It allows simple spectroscopic identification of the samples’ fingerprint region based on Raman spectra databases. Imaging at high video rates is possible due to very short integration times of the SRS detection module (lock-in amplifier). Switching over to SRS microscopy is relatively straightforward for researchers who already have CARS experience.

The APE product family for Spectral Phase Interferometry for Direct Electric-field Reconstruction (SPIDER) is designed for phase-resolved ultrafast pulse measurements. FC (Few Cycle) Spider offers a precision tool for the complete characterization of ultrashort laser pulses with just a few electric field cycles — down to 5 fs pulse width. The Spider NIR is ideal for pulse characterisation of pulses between 15 and 200 fs at around 800 μm central wavelength, while the Spider IR is the best choice for pulses between 30 and 500 fs at 1 μm central wavelength.

The waveScan spectrometer by APE is a compact and cost-efficient optical spectrometer for characterizing light sources, e.g. ultrafast as well as cw laser systems. The waveScan device family cover the spectral range from 200 nm to 6300 nm and allows also the characterization of low-repetition rate lasers down to 100 Hz. The rotating grating technology achieves high resolution measurements at a 5 Hz spectral measurement rates. This makes waveScan an ideal real-time alignment tool for laser systems.

The APE HarmoniXX DFG is designed to extend APE’s product line of wavelength converters into the mid-IR range. It mixes signal and idler output beams of synchronously pumped OPOs and is available for various pump sources. The DFG output wavelength can be changed easily by tuning the OPO signal. It covers a wide wavelength range from 4 μm to >15 μm.

The tunable picosecond laser source picoEmerald emits ultrashort pulses with a duration of 2 ps (other durations possible). A wavelength scan / sweep function for fast spectra acquisition over certain specific wavelengths is included. Key features:

• wavelength 1 IR beam 1032 nm
• wavelength 2 tunable 700 – 990 nm
• wavelength 3 tunable 1080 – 1950 nm
• temporal and spatial overlap of the output wavelengths
• integrated time-delay between the wavelengths
• common output port for all beams
• fully automated wavelength tuning
• EOM optionally integrated