26 September 2008
The Pizzicato is an all-solid state, mode-locked picosecond Nd:YAG laser providing up to 100mJ in a 35ps pulse at 1064nm with high stability
Based on a unique design, the Pizzicato features low jitter, high pulse-to-pulse stability with synchronization capability. The all solid state design is free from the constraints of previous designs that used liquid saturatable absorbers whilst maintaining short pulse durations of 35ps.
The Pizzicato’s mode-locking device forces all the longitudinal modes of the laser cavity to oscillate in phase, allowing the resonator to generate ultrafast (picosecond) pulses.
The picosecond pulses result from the rotation of the polarization by frequency back conversion in a non-linear crystal. This totally passive device produces a wave train made up of several ultrafast pulses and is combined with a double-pass Pockels cell pulse picker system. Together these components produce stabilized ultrafast pulses precisely separated by a few nanoseconds.
The pulse picker generates a synchronization signal allowing the laser to be synchronized with other apparatus and produces excellent energy stability, whilst the second pass increases the energy, power contrast and aids stability & reproducibility.
Only the highest quality mechanical, electronic, and optical components have been used in the Pizzicato to ensure high performance, trouble-free operation and ease of use throughout the laser’s lifetime. These include a carbon fibre resonator support structure with floating fasteners to efficiently absorb any differential expansion and an optical isolator situated between the preamplifier and amplifier to protect the oscillator and mode-locking module against back reflections.
For more information, visit the Quantel Pizzicato page