Laser Accessories
Edinburgh Instruments can supply a variety of accessories for the Infra red gas laser ranges. In addition to those listed below EI can supply a range of laser safety googles, power meters and oscilloscopes, please contact EI for more information.
Laser Stabilisers
For applications demanding excellent medium and long term stability, an active stabiliser may be required. This will compensate for laser output fluctuations caused by changes in ambient conditions and lock the variation in laser frequency or power to a value close to the passive jitter.
Edinburgh Instruments has designed a family of active stabilisation techniques appropriate to the type of laser and operating conditions.
Model 209 Optogalvanic Stabiliser PL2-M, PL3, PL5 Lasers
In operation a small modulation voltage is applied to the piezo-electric cavity length tuner and the resulting effect on the discharge current is measured via a resistor in series with the discharge. This signal, which is produced by the optogalvanic effect, is detected via a phase sensitive detector to give a DC signal which is minimised using negative feedback to lock the laser to line centre.
Model ALS-1 Stabiliser - PL6, FIRL100, 295, 395 Lasers
The ALS-1 is a highly flexible lock-in amplifier and stabiliser system. It is designed to stabilise a laser in a number of different ways.
The model PL6 laser has an extremely flat PZT signature due to the long cavity length, and applied dither stabilisation techniques are therefore not suitable. With this laser the zero order beam from the diffraction grating is monitored with a thermopile detector. The DC signal from this detector is input to the ALS-1 and compared with a preset value to obtain on error signal. The pzt voltage is then automatically adjusted to bring the error signal to zero, effectively locking the laser output power.
With the FIRL100 or 295 FIR lasers, a small modulation voltage is applied to the piezo ceramic of the CO2 laser and the resultant effect on the FIR output is monitored via a beam splitter and pyro electric detector. This signal is detected using phase sensitive detection and is used to lock the CO2 pump laser output and hence the FIR output. A range of stabilisation systems based on the ALS-1 is available for the 395 FIR laser. These range from simple power stabilisation systems to a sophisticated IF locking system depending on requirements.
Closed Cycle Coolers
A range of thermocirculators are available for all Edinburgh Instruments lasers to provide closed cycle heat removal and active temperature regulation to 0.1ºC.
Laser Pumping and Refilling Systems
Gas Handling Systems
All flowing gas laser systems are supplied with the necessary valves, gauges and vacuum couplings for simple connection to the system vacuum pump. A range of oil based rotary pumps and dry pumps are available.
Model 184T
Ultra High Vacuum system, frame mounted, for use with long life sealed CO (PL3) and CO2 lasers (PL3/PL2).
The 184T can be configured (with additional items) for the FIR laser section of the FIRL100, 295 FIR laser and 395 FIR dual output laser. The system comprises of a dry backing pump, a turbo molecular pump, with capsule and inverted magnetron gauges, high vacuum valves, gas regulator and stainless steel flexible connectors.
Gas Mixing Stations
This is designed to allow mixing and metering of up to 5 component gases from independent gas cylinders. These comprise of 5 inlet ports with individual flow meters or needle valves for gas mixing or gas flow operation.