The National Center for Atmospheric Research developed an eye-safe aerosol lidar system for atmospheric investigation. Using stimulated Raman scattering (a third-order nonlinear process) the instrument output is eye-safe at approximately 1.5 μm. The instrument has a range of up to 9 km. It also has performance and durability advantages over many previously reported eye-safe lidar configurations. Eye-safe operation is necessary to broaden the available locations for measurements, including more populated areas and near airports.
The system utilized higher pump pulse power than previous implementations. This, in combination with diode laser injection seeding, allowed eye-safe lidar measurements of atmospheric composition as a function of both distance and time.
Wavelength’s WLD3343 and WTC3243 were used to control the seed laser. It was crucial to control the seed laser’s output wavelength in order to optimize the beam output. The WLD laser driver paired with the WTC temperature controller allowed for precise tuning of the wavelength.
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This video describes how to use the WLD3393 Evaluation Board to rapidly prototype a complete laser diode control system using the WLD3343 laser diode driver. The WLD3343 is excellent for raman spectroscopy, VCSELs, LIDAR, medical and dental systems.
This video shows how to use the WTC3293 Evaluation Board to rapidly prototype a precision temperature control system using the WTC3243. The WTC is a compact, analog Proportional/Integral control loop that easily handles variable operating conditions with a stability of better than 0.0009ºC. It has been designed into electro-optical systems, airborne instrumentation, spectroscopic monitors, and medical diagnostic equipment.
Provide high precision control for laser diode arrays. The touchscreen interface and Intellitune® PID control algorithm easily maximize performance. Pair the exceptional stability of the TC10 LAB temperature control instrument with the low noise and ripple of the LD5CHA laser diode driver — available free with purchase of an instrument for a limited time.
The LDTC LAB series instruments combine best-in-class low noise, high-end digital control laser diode driver technology with an IntelliTune® smart temperature controller. If you need stable wavelength, stable temperature, stable laser diode current or power, or low noise, these offer the best performance and value.
Two models are available, the LD2TC5 LAB and the LD5TC10 LAB. The LD2TC5 LAB outputs up to 2 and 5 A for the laser and thermoelectric, respectively. The LD5TC10 LAB outputs up to 5 and 10 A. Both models offer 10 V of laser compliance voltage and 15 V of thermoelectric compliance voltage.
- Low Noise for Narrow Linewidth
- High Temperature Stability for Stable Wavelength
- High Laser Current Stability for Repeatable Scans
- Temperature stability better than 0.0009°C
- Laser cumulative current noise of 7 μA RMS
- Noise current density 30 nA/√Hz
- CC mode bandwidth of 450 kHz
- The touch-screen interface makes operation intuitive and simple.
- Load failure protection
- Over- and under-Temperature limits on the load
- Current/voltage limits for both TEC and laser
- Automatic laser shutdown upon TEC error available
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