Lambda News

29 July 2008

NEW Zygo Transmission Spheres

Zygo Corporation have introduced the NEW UltraSphere (?/50) Transmission Sphere to enhance its range of transmission spheres for its laser Fizeau interferometer systems. 

The range includes:

Standard Performance (?/10) Transmission Spheres in 25mm, 4 inch and 6 inch Entrance Beam Diameters (interferometer apertures).

Standard Performance DynaFlect™ (?/10) Transmission Spheres in 4 inch Entrance Beam Diameter (interferometer aperture).

DynaFlect Coated Transmission Spheres are best for metrology of test optics with > 40% reflectivity.

High Performance (?/20) Transmission Spheres in 4 inch Entrance Beam Diameter (interferometer aperture).

The new Zygo UltraSphere (?/50) Transmission Sphere product is designed to enable surface form metrology with an uncertainty in the RMS) of = 3.2 nm (?/200 at 633nm) when used with a Zygo interferometer. The UltraSphere is an uncoated transmission sphere. Like the Standard and High Performance transmission spheres, the UltraSphere range is best for metrology of test optics with = 40% reflectivity.

The new Zygo UltraSphere (?/50) is available in 4 inch aperture size with f/numbers of f/0.75, f/1.5 and f/3.3.

Click here for more information

If you require any addition information please contact us

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

24 July 2008  

Lambda Photometrics are pleased to announce two new tunable OPO laser systems from Opotek, the high-repetition rate Opolette HR and the high-energy Opolette HE.

Opolette HE

The Opolette is an integrated, turn-key tunable laser system. It is the most compact system of its kind with a footprint of only 7" x 12".

All system components, including the pump laser, the OPO, and optional UV modules are mounted on a single, hermetically sealed, optical frame.The user-friendly software provided with the system enables easy access to all the system functions.

The patented OPO is a Double Resonance Oscillator (DRO) as well as a Double Pass Oscillator (DPO), resulting in high conversion efficiency, walk-off and beam steering cancellation, and excellent pointing stability.

The Opolette is now available in a high-energy (HE) version, pumped by the Big Sky Ultra 100 which provides a peak energy of 10mJ

Opolette HR

The Opolette HR is a true solid state, integrated tunable laser system. The system incorporates the Big Sky Centurion Diode-Pumped-Solid-State (DPSS) laser as the pump source and can operate at pulse repetition rates of up to 100 Hz. All optical components (including the pump laser, the OPO, and the optional UV modules) are mounted on a single optical frame. The laser head is extremely compact, with a footprint of only 9" x12", and is hermetically sealed to protect the optics. The control software, which is provided with the system, offers complete control of all the system functions, from laser operation to wavelength tuning and scanning. The system is portable and requires no maintenance.

For more information on either system, please contact us

20 June 2008  

Due to Lambda Photometrics Ltd continued success over the past 30 years, Lambda’s two parent companies (Physik Instrumente GmbH and Polytec GmbH ) have now launched their own UK operations PI (Physik Instrumente) Ltd and Polytec Ltd. The two new companies are also based within Lambda House and will work alongside Lambda Photometrics.   Commenting on the recent changes Adrian Harrison, Managing Director of Lambda Photometrics, said “This is great news for Lambda’s customers, as it means we can focus solely on our core business of sales and support of Photonics, Fibre Optics, Machine Vision and Metrology products, thereby providing our customers with the highest levels of service and support.”

The structure and focus of the three companies is as follows:

Lambda Photometrics Ltd

We will continue to focus solely on our core business of sales and support of Lasers, Optics, Fibre Optics, Machine Vision and Metrology products.

Polytec Ltd

Polytec Ltd will focus on sales and support of Polytec’s range of Vibrometers and Velocimeters.

PI (Physik Instrumente) Ltd

PI (Physik Instrumente) Ltd will focus on sales and support of PI’s range of Micro-positioning and Nano-positioning products.

27 June 2008

Lambda Photometrics Ltd are pleased to announce the PR™ 4400 Precision Reflectometer from Luna Technologies. This portable, user-friendly instrument represents the state-of-the-art for measuring reflections as a function of distance in a fibre component or assembly

In a single measurement sweep, the user now has unprecedented optical-module inspection and diagnostic capabilities by providing the ability to locate and troubleshoot connectors, fiber breaks and more. The PR™ 4400 features spatial resolution as low as 40microns and the ability to view an entire assembly of up to 2 kilometers length, in one scan, with zero dead zone.

Key features:

• 40µm Spatial Resolution (over 70meters)
• 2km length range with zero dead zone
• -90dB Sensitivity 55dB Dynamic Range

This next generation instrument is derived from the unique technology employed in LUNA’s leading edge Optical Backscatter Reflectometer (OBR) and Optical Vector Analyser (OVA) systems, as used worldwide in numerous R&D and production test & measurement applications.

Please contact Matthew Ball, by email or on 01582 764334 to discuss your application or arrange a demo.

22 July 2008  

Lambda Photometrics are pleased to announce that we can now supply replacement red, green and blue lasers for the Durst Lambda high-resolution digital photographic printers

The Durst Lambda series photographic printers are one of the best known digital photo imagers, providing outstanding quality large format printing, with true whites and blacks and superbly saturated colours.

To achieve this it uses a 3-laser (RGB) exposure system, consisting of a red HeNe laser, a green Argon Ion laser and a blue Argon Ion laser.

The three laser beams are then combined into one beam which simultaneously exposes all three layers (yellows, magenta and cyan) on the photo-material.  

Lambda Photometrics are able to supply all three of these lasers, all on short delivery times. If your Durst Lambda system requires replacement lasers and your clients are waiting for their printed media, call us today on 01582 764334 for the latest price and delivery information.

Alternatively you can request a quote below:

Red HeNe laser quotation request

Green Argon Ion laser quotation request

Blue Argon Ion laser quotation request

Note: We can also supply replacement Argon Ion lasers for the Agfa d-lab series. Click here for more information

15 January 2008

ProStream software is an easy to use GigE Vision camera software package for recording streaming video. With an intuitive user interface and low cost, ProStream is perfect for both novice and advanced users.   

• Complete camera systems available
• Compatible with all Prosilica Gigabit Ethernet Cameras
• Multiple cameras
• High speed, high resolution or combination

• External, internal, or frame-synch trigger options
• Text overlay of video with capture parameters
• Record from remote or local cameras
• No additional plug-in modules required
• Record to laptop RAM or hard disk array
• Event marker tags a specific frame upon input during long-term video streaming
• Store images (bmp, jpg, tiff, png, raw) or video (compressed or uncompressed AVI, raw)

Click here to register for your free 15-day trial by email, alternatively call the Machine Vision Team on 01582 764334

19 February 2008 

Zygo Corporation has announced its next-generation of leading 3D Optical Profilers, the NewView™ 7000-series. These products are designed for rapid, precise, and quantitative surface metrology for the production and scientific research markets.

Available in two platforms - the 7300 and 7200 -the NewView™ 7000-series sets a new industry benchmark with significant gains in performance.  

Based on proprietary scanning technology, the NewView™ 7000 delivers leading precision sub-nanometer z-resolution with the highest speed in its class. New enhancements include an ultra high-speed scanner with improved linearity, improved signal to noise ratio, increased illumination output, next-generation electronics with encoded stages, and a new suite of machine vision tools. With its unique combination of advanced performance features, precision and flexibility, the NewView™ 7000-series delivers optimal value making it one of the most advanced 3D optical metrology instrument available today for production and research.

Zygo optical metrology tools are available in the UK and Ireland through Zygo’s exclusive distributor, Lambda Photometrics Ltd a leading supplier of cutting edge technology for the scientific, industrial and academic markets. Click here to request more information

27 March 2008

We are pleased to announce the arrival of the Opotek IR Opolette 100 Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) pumped by the Quantel Centurion 100Hz diode pumped Nd:YAG laser which would be particularly suitable for IR MALDI applications at 2.94µm.

The new IR Opolette 100 employs KTP crystals for the wavelength range 2.6-3.2µm and offers a pulse energy of >0.8mJ across this range at 100Hz (~1.1mJ at 2.94µm); see tuning curve. By comparison Opotek also has another ultra compact standard system using KTP crystals pumped by Quantel USA’s Ultra 20Hz laser which offers >1.5mJ at 2.94µm; see tuning curve.

IR Opolette 100

IR Opolette tuning curve

Since MALDI-TOF applications also require samples to be illuminated in the UV, it is possible to add a UV option which will enable the user to access the 355nm output (>5.5mJ) from Opotek’s third harmonic module pumped with the residual 1064nm having pumped the OPO. The IR and UV are generated simultaneously though accessed separately; whilst operating in the IR the Second Harmonic Generator should be dephased in order to minimize residual background (phase matching adjustments available). It is simple to interchange between IR and UV beams.

All Opotek’s products are fully automated, reliable, flexible as well as easy to use and maintain. They are based on patented OPO designs and supplied with a control program that enables tuning from a computer via USB. The compactness of the Opolette system has been further improved now that the ULTRA pump utilises Quantel’s new ICE 450 compact, portable, easy-to-use power supply with detachable cables (at laser head and electronics) which can be used vertically or horizontally.  

Top: The new IR Opolette 100

Right: Layout of the New IR Opolette 100

Bottom: Opotek’s IR Opolette with the new compact ICE 450

Please contact Preetesh Mistry, by email or on 01582 764334 for further information regarding the Opotek IR Opolette 100.

13 July 2007  

We are pleased to announce several technical advancements in the Lasos portfolio of Laser Diode Modules and Diode Pumped Solid State (DPSS) lasers used in confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and cell sorting applications.

The model VLK 0520 F (20mW at 408nm) and RLK 6040 F(40mW at 660nm) are new members of the LasNova-series 10/20 laser diode modules with integrated fibre coupling into Single Mode Polarization Maintaining (SM PM) fibre, and built into the same size package as our compact DPSS lasers. The pigtailed fibre coupling has a robust design, ensures long term stability of the laser output parameters and will give you the flexibility of being able to position the laser head remotely to your experiment.

Lasos can offer various options for the output connector, e.g. FC/PC or FC Ferrule and a collimated output beam for the red module. The laser can be modulated with an analogue input of up to 20MHz and with a digital input up to 100 MHz. We can also offer other models at 445nm, 473nm, 635nm and 680nm. Free-space versions of Lasos’ laser diode modules will be released later this year. 

The YLK 6150 T yellow DPSS laser with 50mW at 561nm is a new member of the LasNova 60 series and a significant improvement on the 20mW previously offered. The laser exhibits excellent beam quality (M2 ~ 1.2), output power stability (+/- 2% over 8 hours) and <0.5% rms noise (30Hz…100MHz) making this laser the best choice for fluorescence-driven imaging devices.

Lasos are offering this significantly higher power laser to compensate for fibre-coupling losses or optical throughput inefficiencies in the field of laser scanning microscopy and imaging devices.

Lasos have a long history in supplying gas lasers for many applications such as Printing, Medical, Biotechnology, Metrology, Holography and Barcode scanning. For example, Lasos manufacture extremely high specification and stable HeNe lasers with laser lifetimes of >20,000 hours, very good beam quality (M2 typically 1.1), <0.5% rms noise (30Hz…..10MHz), power stability (< +/- 5% , 8 hours after warm-up) and minimal angular drift as a function of temperature (0.05 mrad/ °C). Lasos’ universal fibre-coupling solution can be used with all their gas and solid state lasers, has high coupling efficiency (>70%) will not need to be realigned in the field.

Click here to request more information