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 QCL 2000 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.
Remote operation is also possible using the USB and Ethernet Test and Measurement Class Command Set. If you are using the QCL LAB with firmware version 0.79 or earlier, it is remotely controlled using Wavelength’s QuickConnect Application (QCA):
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.
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.
