Acousto-optic components and RF drivers

Fiber-coupled acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) for external cavity lasers

All standard products

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Components

Description

SLDsources.com designs, manufactures and assembles fiber-coupled acousto-optic (AO) components for use in external cavity lasers (ECL). This product line includes in-line (fiber-to-fiber) tunable filters, optical modulators, and RF drivers for them. This document describes the main performance characteristics of the Acousto-Optic Tunable Filters (AOTFs). Fiber-coupled modulators are available upon request only. If you require more information, or you have custom requirements, please contact us at enquiries@sldsources.com.

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Components

Features

  • Very high resolution
  • Fast switching speed
  • Low RF drive power
  • Stable performance
  • No moving parts
  • Thermally stabilized
  • PM fiber coupling
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Components

Applications

  • Laser wavelength tuning
  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  • Wavelength selection
  • Incoherent light sources
  • Various OEM applications
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Components

Acousto-optic tunable filters

Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) is a solid-state, electronically-tunable bandpass filter based on anisotropic Bragg diffraction in a birefringent crystal. Filters of this type can be used with Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOA) in ECL configurations as wavelength-selective elements, as well as with broadband light sources to select and transmit a single or multiple wavelengths from the incoming light.

We offer AOTFs based on TeO2 with quasi-collinear slow-shear AO interaction. An AOTF is designed for a particular tuning range, as specified in Tables 1 and 3. All components are optimized so that the filter has the best performance in that tuning range. The filters feature narrow transmission bandwidth, high diffraction efficiency, and low RF drive power.

Our standard models include:

1. In-line fiber-coupled AOTF: It is a Peltier TEC cooled assembly including input and output PM fibers, an AOTF and an optical isolator. This model is intended for use in ring ECL configurations that require unidirectional light propagation.

2. Bi-directional fiber-coupled AOTF: It is a Peltier TEC cooled assembly consisting of a single fiber for input and output of the light, an AOTF and a broadband high-reflective dielectric mirror (R > 99%). This model does not have an isolator installed. It is intended for use in linear ECL configurations.

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Components

RF drivers

RF drivers compatible with our AOTFs are also available. They provide stationary operation at a single frequency and tuning operation at speeds of 1 – 10000 nm/s for internal and external trigger modes. AOTF temperature stabilization is also provided. The drivers are based on a direct digital synthesizer. They use non-volatile memory to store operating settings. All drivers are equipped with USB ports for remote control from a PC using the software supplied.

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Components

In-line fiber-coupled unidirectional AOTFs for ring ECLs

Below are the specifications of standard models of in-line fiber-coupled unidirectional acousto-optic tunable filters for ring external cavity lasers.

Table 1

Parameter Units AOTF-800-0.2-I AOTF-850-0.2-I AOTF-950-0.3-I AOTF-1050-0.3-I
Center wavelength1 nm 800 850 950 1050
Wavelength tuning range nm 750 – 850 800 – 900 900 – 1000 1000 – 1100
Frequency tuning range MHz 95 – 115 90 – 110 80 – 90 70 – 80
Spectral resolution2 nm 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3
Fiber type - Panda PM 850 Panda PM 850 Panda PM 850 Panda PM 980
1Custom wavelengths are available on request.
2Specified at the center wavelength.

Table 2

Parameter Units All models
Interaction medium - TeO2
AO interaction mode - Quasi-collinear slow-shear
Interaction length mm 23
Diffraction efficiency % > 80
Maximum tuning speed nm/s 10000
Nominal RF power W 0.1
Transmission (input to output) % 55 – 60
PER dB > 18 dB
Slow axis alignment3 - Aligned to connector key
Operating axis - Slow, fast axis blocked
Optical connector type4 - FC/APC, narrow key
Filter stabilization temperature °C 36
Operating conditions - Room, non-condensing
TEC cooled assembly5 - +
Supply voltage and current for AOTF temperature controller6 - +5 VDC, 2 A
Storage temperature range °C +10 to +40
Dimensions (W × H × D) mm 59 × 50 × 183
Weight g 792
3Fast axis alignment is available on request.
4Other fiber connectors are available on request.
5AOTF is mounted on a Peltier cooler in the assembly.
6RF driver and temperature controller are purchased separately. Power supply is not included.
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Components

Bi-directional fiber-coupled AOTFs with broadband HR mirrors for linear ECLs

Below are the specifications of standard models of bi-directional fiber-coupled acousto-optic tunable filters for linear external cavity lasers.

Table 3

Parameter Units AOTF-800-0.2-M AOTF-850-0.2-M AOTF-950-0.3-M AOTF-1050-0.3-M
Center wavelength1 nm 800 850 950 1050
Wavelength tuning range nm 750 – 850 800 – 900 900 – 1000 1000 – 1100
Frequency tuning range MHz 95 – 115 90 – 110 80 – 90 70 – 80
Spectral resolution2 nm 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3
Fiber type - Panda PM 850 Panda PM 850 Panda PM 850 Panda PM 980
1Custom wavelengths are available on request.
2Specified at the center wavelength.

Table 4

Parameter Units All models
Interaction medium - TeO2
AO Interaction mode - Quasi-collinear slow-shear
Interaction length mm 23
Diffraction efficiency % > 80
Maximum tuning speed nm/s 10000
Nominal RF power W 0.1
Transmission (input to output) % 45 – 50
PER dB > 18 dB
Slow axis alignment3 - Aligned to connector key
Operating axis - Slow, fast axis blocked
Optical connector type4 - FC/APC, narrow key
Filter stabilization temperature °C 36
Operating conditions - Room, non-condensing
TEC cooled assembly5 - +
Supply voltage and current for AOTF temperature controller6 - +5 VDC, 2 A
Storage temperature range °C +10 to +40
Dimensions (W × H × D) mm 51 × 33 × 106
Weight g 390
3Fast axis alignment is available on request.
4Other fiber connectors are available on request.
5AOTF is mounted on a Peltier cooler in the assembly.
6RF driver and temperature controller are purchased separately. Power supply is not included.
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Components

Typical performance examples

Below are typical performance examples for standard models of acousto-optic tunable filters.

Tuning characteristic for the model AOTF-850-0.2-I

Tuning characteristic for the model AOTF-850-0.2-I

Transmission for the model AOTF-850-0.2-I

Transmission for the model AOTF-850-0.2-I

AOTF bandwidth for the model AOTF-850-0.2-I

AOTF bandwidth for the model AOTF-850-0.2-I

VSWR for the model AOTF-850-0.2-I

VSWR for the model AOTF-850-0.2-I
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Components

Typical application examples

Below are typical application examples for acousto-optic tunable filters.

AOTF in a ring ECL

AOTF in a ring ECL

AOTF in a linear ECL

AOTF in a linear ECL
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Components

More detailed and customized specifications

If you need more detailed specifications for any part number (P/N) in the tables above, or if you need customized specifications, please contact us at enquiries@sldsources.com.

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Components

Additional Resources

Product Information Sheets

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