UniMir ≈ 10-14um / 17-19um

Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL), Narrow Linewidth, ≈10-14um / 17-19um

Key Features:

  • DFB Single-Mode QCL
  • Available wavelengths: ≈10-14 & 17-19µm
  • Tunable wavelength range within a few wavenumbers
  • HHL package with collimation lens
  • ≈ 5-10 mW CW output power
  • Pulsed operation available
  • Mode-Hop-Free tuning range
  • > 25dB side mode suppression ratio
  • <100MHz linewidth
  • <10mrad divergence
  • TEM00 beam quality

 

There are many configurations and options available. If you do not see exactly what you need below, please contact us!

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Perfect for measuring CH3i in the nuclear industry, this UniMir model is a single-mode DFB QCL, operating in CW mode with 10mW output power (with the base plate of the HHL-package at 20oC). The full tunable range is >3cm-1, while the continuous tuning range, free from ‘mode hopping’ is >1cm-1.

The uniMir Series is a long-wavelength, single-frequency, DFB, CW Quantum Cascade Laser based on proprietary technology. The technology’s versatility allows them to address various wavelengths between ≈ 10-14um and 17-19um. Now commercially available in a sealed High Heat Load (HHL) package, with integrated collimating lens, thermistor, and thermoelectric cooler (TEC), well suited for integration into systems, or as a stand-alone turnkey system for R&D and detection applications.

Benefits:

  • Gas Sensing Benefits: 
    • Very tight linewidth that drives the very high sensitivity of gas sensing
    • Low power consumption for integration in portable gas analyzers
    • Very stable over time with good Allan deviation results when integrated inside a gas analyzer
  • Operation Benefits: 
    • CW operation delivering mW levels of output power at room temperature
    • Pulsed operation for larger tuning range is a good option because at these long wavelengths, the intrapulse linewidth broadening is relatively small
    • Single-mode, mode-hop-free tunability – Controlling operating temperature with TEC enables wavelength tuning without mode hopping while keeping a single-mode operation

The uniMir series is well suited for integration into systems, or as a stand-alone turnkey system for R&D and detection applications. The technology’s versatility allows them to address any wavelength between 10 and 18µm in CW and up to 21µm in pulsed mode, opening the way for high-resolution spectroscopy applications in this spectral range, notably for the detection of BTEX, but also CH3I, HCN and many other compounds. With very tight linewidths, the uniMir series provides high sensitivity for gas detection, while low power consumption ensures long battery life in portable analyzers.

The uniMir lasers are mounted on a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) inside a sealed High Heat Load (HHL) package, integrating a collimation lens and a thermistor to readout the laser chip temperature. By controlling the chip’s operating temperature through the TEC element inside the laser’s package, customers can tune the emission wavelength without mode hopping while keeping a single-mode operation. The lasers operate in both continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed modes, with the latter providing a larger tuning range and minimal intrapulse linewidth broadening at these long wavelengths.

These benefits make the uniMir laser family an excellent choice for gas analysis in challenging environments, offering mW levels of output power and stable performance over time, with good Allan deviation results when integrated inside a gas analyzer.

  • Perfect for measuring CH3i in the nuclear industry, the UniMir at 11.3µm (885 cm-1) is a single-mode DFB QCL, operating in CW mode with 10mW output power (with the base plate of the HHL-package at 20oC).
  • Perfect for measuring xylene and propane monitoring, the UniMir at 13.4µm (746 cm-1) is a single-mode DFB QCL, operating in CW mode with 5mW output power (with the base plate of the HHL-package at 20oC).
  • Perfect for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) monitoring, the UniMir at 14µm (713 cm-1) is a single-mode DFB QCL, operating in CW mode with 5mW output power (with the base plate of the HHL-package at 20oC).

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us.

PowerMir HHL PackagemirSense HHL

For clients who wish to purchase only the laser without the driving electronics, all of our laser wavelengths are available in a packaged version alone. Our standard offer is in an HHL package including the thermal regulation and a collimating lens. We are used to developing and supplying custom packages as well.  For specific projects, RPMC can also supply QCL chips on sub-mounts on demand.


PowerMir HHL Features:

  • Standard high heat loads package (9-pins HHL) or custom package on request
  • Integrated Peltier TEC cooler
  • Integrated collimating lens (High beam quality, M²<1.5)
  • Possibility of chips on sub-mount delivery
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Component FAQs
Can I operate multiple laser diodes from the same power supply?

Can I operate multiple laser diodes from the same power supply?

The same power supply can drive multiple laser diodes if they are connected in series, but they must never be connected in parallel. When two diodes are connected in series, they will function properly as long as the compliance voltage is large enough to cover the voltage drop across each diode. For example, suppose you are trying to power two diode lasers, each with an operating voltage of 1.9 V, and connect the two in series. In that case, the pulsed or CW laser driver must have a total voltage capacity greater than 3.8 V. This configuration works because diodes share the same current when connected in series. In contrast, when two diodes are connected in parallel, the current is no longer shared between the two diodes. Get more details on the topic in this article: “Can I Operate Multiple Laser Diodes From the Same Power Supply?” Get more information from our Lasers 101, Blogs, Whitepapers, FAQs, and Press Release pages in our Knowledge Center!

Can laser diodes emit green, blue, or UV light?

Can laser diodes emit green, blue, or UV light?

The output wavelength of a semiconductor laser is based on the difference in energy between the valance and conduction bands of the material (bandgap energy). Since the energy of a photon is inversely proportional to its wavelength, this means that a larger bandgap energy will result in a shorter emission wavelength. Due to the relatively wide bandgap energy of 3.4 eV, gallium nitride (GaN) is ideal for the production of semiconductor optoelectronic devices, producing blue wavelength light without the need for nonlinear crystal harmonic generation. Since the mid-’90s, GaN substrates have been the common material utilized for blue LEDs. In recent years, GaN based laser technology has provided blue, green and UV laser diodes, now available in wavelengths from 375 nm to 521 nm, with output powers exceeding 100 watts. Read our article, titled “Gallium Nitride (GaN) Laser Diodes: Green, Blue, and UV Wavelengths” to learn more about GaN Based Laser Diodes, available through RPMC. Get more information from our Lasers 101, Blogs, Whitepapers, and FAQs pages in our Knowledge Center!

How long will a laser diode last?
How long will a laser diode last?

Honestly, it depends on several factors, and there is no simple chart to cover everything. Typical diode lifetimes are in the range of 25,000 to 50,000 hours. Though, there are lifetime ratings outside this range, depending on the configuration. Furthermore, there are a wide range of degradation sources that contribute to a shorter lifespan of laser diodes. These degradation sources include dislocations that affect the inner region, metal diffusion and alloy reactions that affect the electrode, solder instability (reaction and migration) that affect the bonding parts, separation of metals in the heatsink bond, and defects in buried heterostructure devices. Read more about diode lifetime and contributing factors in this article: “Understanding Laser Diode Lifetime.” Get more information from our Lasers 101, Blogs, Whitepapers, FAQs, and Press Release pages in our Knowledge Center!

What factors affect the lifetime of laser diodes?
What factors affect the lifetime of laser diodes?

There are a great many factors that can increase or decrease the lifetime of a laser diode. One of the main considerations is thermal management. Mounting or heatsinking of the package is of tremendous importance because operating temperature strongly influences lifetime and performance. Other factors to consider include electrostatic discharge (ESD), voltage and current spikes, back reflections, flammable materials, noxious substances, outgassing materials (even thermal compounds), electrical connections, soldering method and fumes, and environmental considerations including ambient temperature, and contamination from humidity and dust. Read more about these critical considerations and contributing factors in this article: “How to Improve Laser Diode Lifetime: Advice and Precautions on Mounting.” Get more information from our Lasers 101, Blogs, Whitepapers, FAQs, and Press Release pages in our Knowledge Center!

What is a laser diode?
What is a laser diode?

A Laser Diode or semiconductor laser is the simplest form of Solid-State Laser. Laser diodes are commonly referred to as edge emitting laser diodes because the laser light is emitted from the edge of the substrate. The light emitting region of the laser diode is commonly called the emitter. The emitter size and the number of emitters determine output power and beam quality of a laser diode. Electrically speaking, a laser diode is a PIN diode. The intrinsic (I) region is the active region of the laser diode. The N and P regions provide the active region with the carriers (electrons and holes). Initially, research on laser diodes was carried out using P-N diodes. However, all modern laser diodes utilize the double-hetero-structure implementation. This design confines the carriers and photons, allowing a maximization of recombination and light generation. If you want to start reading more about laser diodes, try this whitepaper “How to Improve Laser Diode Lifetime.” If you want to read more about the Laser Diode Types we offer, check out the Overview of Laser Diodes section on our Lasers 101 Page!

What is the difference between laser diodes and VCSELs?
What is the difference between laser diodes and VCSELs?

Laser Diodes and VCSELs are semiconductor lasers,  the simplest form of Solid State Lasers.  Laser diodes are commonly referred to as edge emitting laser diodes because the laser light is emitted from the edge of the substrate. The light emitting region of the laser diode is commonly called the emitter.  The emitter size and the quantity of emitters determine output power and beam quality of a laser diode. These Fabry Perot Diode Lasers with a single emission region (Emitter) are typically called laser diode chips, while a linear array of emitters is called laser diode bars. Laser diode bars typically use multimode emitters, the number of emitters per substrate can vary from 5 emitters to 100 emitters. VCSELs (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) emit light perpendicular to the mounting surface as opposed to parallel like edge emitting laser diodes.  VCSELs offer a uniform spatial illumination in a circular illumination pattern with low speckle. If you want to read more about lasers in general, and help narrowing down the selection to find the right laser for you, check out our Knowledge Center for our Blogs, Whitepapers, and FAQ pages, as well as our Lasers 101 Page!VCSEL

What’s the difference between single transverse mode & single longitudinal mode?

What’s the difference between single transverse mode & single longitudinal mode?

Within the laser community, one of the most overused and often miscommunicated terms is the phrase “single mode.”  This is because a laser beam when traveling through air takes up a three-dimensional volume in space similar to that of a cylinder; and just as with a cylinder, a laser beam can be divided into independent coordinates each with their own mode structure.  For a cylinder we would call these the length and the cross-section, but as shown in the figure below for a laser beam, we define these as the transverse electromagnetic (TEM) plane and the longitudinal axis.   Both sets of modes are fundamental to the laser beam’s properties, since the TEM modes determine the spatial distribution of the laser beams intensity, and the longitudinal modes determine the spectral properties of the laser.  As a result, when a laser is described as being “single-mode” first you need to make sure that you truly understand which mode is being referred to.  Meaning that you must know if the laser is single transverse mode, single longitudinal mode, or both. Get all the information you need in this article: “What is Single Longitudinal Mode?” Get more information from our Lasers 101, Blogs, Whitepapers, FAQs, and Press Release pages in our Knowledge Center!