LOWEST NOISE QCL INSTRUMENT AVAILABLE
These low noise QCL driver instruments have the lowest current noise density of any commercially available. They enable lower detection thresholds in gas, liquid, and material sensing systems. Powering a QCL with Wavelength’s patented1 driver gives you narrower linewidths, stable center wavelength, and repeatable scans.
This is the right instrument for lasers that require a high-precision and ultra-low noise current source to measure concentrations lower than ever before. The 500 mA QCL driver exhibits noise performance of 0.4 μA RMS to 100 kHz, and an average current noise density of 1 nA / √Hz.
To help you get the best performance from your QCL driver, Wavelength provides on-line Application and Technical notes:
AN-LD08: Manage Grounding to Minimize Noise with the QCL Drivers
AN-LD09: Troubleshooting Low Noise Systems
TN-LD02: How is Current Noise Measured at Wavelength Electronics
We are sure that once you experience the precision, stability and ease-of-use of our touchscreen instruments, you’ll be convinced that they are ideal for your high performance application. We are offering a test drive any instrument for 30 days for free. Activate the test drive.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT OUTPUT CURRENT RANGE TO MINIMIZE NOISE
The QCL Driver family is available in four different instrument models so that you can choose the ideal one for your application:
- 500 mA with the QCL500 LAB
- 1 A with the QCL1000 LAB
- 1.5 A with the QCL1500 LAB
- 2 A with the QCL2000 LAB
ULTRA-NARROW QCL LINEWIDTH
In order to maintain a characteristically tight center linewidth and minimize jitter, quantum cascade lasers must be powered by drivers with exceptionally low current noise density. Our customers have reported achieving narrower linewidths with our QCL drivers than any other they’ve used.
HIGHEST MODULATION BANDWIDTH
The high modulation bandwidth and fast rise-time maintains modulation waveform integrity so you can shape the laser output profile exactly as your application requires.
INTUITIVE USER INTERFACE AND SUPERIOR SOFTWARE CONTROL
With Wavelength’s plug and play instrument, controls are set quickly using either the instrument touchscreen or a remote computer, and results are easy to monitor. This allows taking your revolutionary QCL application from the test bench to market quickly and efficiently.
A LabVIEW Virtual Instrument application is available for remote operation. Complete installation and operation instructions can be found in the Virtual Instrument Operating Guide.
Remote operation is also possible using the USB and Ethernet Test and Measurement Class Command Set. Complete installation and operation instructions can be found in the LAB Series Command Set document. If you are using the QCL LAB with firmware version 0.79 or earlier, it is remotely controlled using Wavelength’s QuickConnect Application (QCA):
- QCL LAB Firmware Version 0.79 Instrument Datasheet
- QCL LAB QuickConnect Application Download, 32-bit
- QCL LAB QuickConnect Application Download, 64-bit
You can upgrade the firmware for free to use the Command Set or VI here. If you are upgrading from version 0.79 to version 1.5+, all calibration and user data will be converted and saved. If you downgrade from version 1.5+ to version 0.79, all existing calibration data will be lost.
PROTECT YOUR QCL INVESTMENT
All the essential control and monitor functions expected in a Wavelength product are incorporated into this QCL driver, along with protection circuitry to safeguard the QCL from minor power source faults, over-temperature conditions, and electrical faults.
The soft-clamping current limit can be set without enabling the driver output, and uses a brick-wall never-exceed limit circuit to protect the QCL from potentially damaging overcurrent situations. Additionally, the QCL instrument comes standard with many other safety features:
- Power supply over current protection
- Brown-out and overvoltage protection
- Driver over-temperature protection circuit
- Relay shorts output when current is disabled
- AC input and patented power supply filtering
- Key switch, active, and passive interlocks
- Password protection available to lock out a selectable control set.
- 2 second turn-on delay
- 1.5 msec current ramp
USEFUL ACCESSORIES
An Interlock Kit, which includes a BNC terminator and modified D-SUB connector to override interlocks, is included with the instrument. Single and dual rack mount kits are available. Windows-based software also comes with the instrument.
A rack mount temperature control instrument, the TC LAB Series, is available:
TC10 LAB 10A Controller
TC15 LAB 15A Controller
OEM VERSION AVAILABLE
Once you have finalized your work, the QCL circuitry is available in compact OEM versions:
APPLICATIONS
Due to their unique construction, QCLs operate with high power in the near-IR through terahertz ranges. These wavelengths are particularly suited to detection of molecules significant to humans.
Applications for the lower noise QCL driver include: remote detection of explosive materials, medical diagnosis using the breath, non-invasive glucose testing, emissions monitoring of the atmosphere or marine environments, and pharmaceutical process quality control. Additional applications include anesthesia and hospital air quality monitoring, leak detection, remote imaging, and cavity ring-down spectroscopy.
1Covered by U.S. Patents 6,696,887; 6,867,644 and 7,176,755. Licensed from Battelle Memorial Institute.
Free, effective, and responsive technical support is available to simplify integration of Wavelength products into your OEM design. Standard product can be easily modified to meet your application requirements.
