Reef-M autocorrelator for multiphoton microscopy

Customer inquiry:

We need a femtosecond autocorrelator to test our pulse width. I have checked your website and found your model Reef RT AA-10D. I am very interested in this product. If possible, could you tell me quote of this model

Del Mar Photonics answer:

Thank you for your request at Del Mar. We can offer as follows
1) Reef-RTD real-time scanning autocorrelator - request a quote
Collinear (interferometric) autocorrelation
Wavelength range, nm 700-1300.
Pulse duration range, fs 20-6000
Input repetition rate 10 kHz
Sensitivity 100 mW^2
Input polarization - horizontal (if vertical please specify with order and e-mail)
Scanning rate, Hz 0.1-20
Linear distortion, % 1%
Necessary equipment PC with USB or oscilloscope
Dimensions, mm Optical unit - 132 x 123 x 118 (195x166x130 with additional photodetector option)
Elecronic unit - 255 x 190 x 45 - additional interchangeable photodetector units for range extension are available (please see below)
Acquisition and analysis PC software included

2) PD-VIS Additional photodetector unit for 450-700 nm coverage
3) PD-FIR Additional photodetector unit for 1300-2000 nm coverage

Customer:

I still have another questions.
1. One key issue is whether the optical beam in collinear mode can be guided out of optical module without passing your SHG unit and detector
head. The reason is that we want to measure pulse width on our biomedical sample and beam is focused on our sample. Our sample also produces SHG
signals and PMT in our microscopy can detect the SHG signals. Thus, if your beam after achieving delaying and recombining could directly illuminate
our sample, we could test the pulse width on our sample. I am not sure whether you can realize this function.

2. Another problem is about pulse duration range (20fs-6ps). I wonder how do you count so many peaks for 6ps in collinear operation mode.
Could you please give me a feedback Thanks a lot.

Del Mar Photonics:

1) Our autocorrelator uses two-photon conductivity in semiconductor principle (photodetector), not SHG.
However, exactly for your application we have the Reef-M autocorrelator.
It is able to measure pulse duration both before entry into a microscope, and at sample position with a second external photodetector. Moreover, you can use its internal delay mechanisms to generate delay and guide this beam without passing the internal detector. Then you can either use our external detector in place of your sample, or place your sample and observe SHG with your PMT. The Reef-M has delay position (x) analog BNC output, which you might use with an oscilloscope to reconstruct the autocorrelation trace together with intensity reading (y) of your PMT. However, the exact routing is up to you.

2) The interferometric fringes are not counted in this case, we use intensity autocorrelation method for pulse durations above 1 ps, as fringe structure becomes irrelevant.
Please find enclosed the Reef-M brochure.
The price for Reef-M is USD18,000. Request a formal quote - Reef-M brochure

Reef-M real-time scanning autocorrelator for microscopy - request a quote - pdf brochure

Collinear (interferometric) autocorrelation
Wavelength range, nm: 700-1300*
Pulse duration range, fs: 10-6000
Input repetition rate: >10 kHz
Sensitivity: <100 mW^2
Input polarization: horizontal (vertical upon request)
Scanning rate, Hz: 0.1-20
Linear distortion, %: <1%
Necessary equipment: PC with USB or oscilloscope
Photodetectors: internal and external, switchable
Dimensions, mm:
210x164x132 (opical head)
225x190x45 (electronic unit)
70x55x16.5 (external photodetector)
* - additional interchangeable photodetector units for range extension are available
Acquisition and analysis PC software included

Price USD18,000.-

Customer:

Thank you for your reply. We are very interested in the Reef-M autocorrelator. However, I still have a question. First, the operation mechanism is interferometric autocorrelation. Thus, for 5 or 6ps, how do you count so many interferometric peaks?

Del Mar Photonics:

For pulse durations above 1 ps we use intensity autocorrelation method, where the data of interferometric autocorrelation becomes averaged, so we do not refer to fringe structure at these pulse duration values. Please refer to the attached description from our software Irtac about interferometric and intensity autocorrelation techniques with detailed explanation.

WHAT IS THE INTERFEROMETRIC AUTOCORRELATION?
Interferometric autocorrelation measurement is a technique widely used for characterization of the ultrashort optical pulses generated by modern mode-locked lasers. The pulse durations ranges from several femtoseconds to a few picoseconds. The pulses may have phase modulation and thus may be not bandwidth limited. In contrast to intensity autocorrelation (also widely used for characterization of the ultrashort optical pulses) the interferometric autocorrelation provides some additional information about this phase modulation. Although this information cannot be processed to the full time domain phase dependence it provides a significant advice to experimenter who develops and uses the laser systems.
Typically, interferometric autocorrelation is achieved by splitting the optical pulse in two replicas. Each replica propagates in different optical path, and the paths difference is controlled by a special translation unit with the generator and the position measurement system (the scanning unit). Finally, two replicas of the source pulse with the relative delay varying in the time are combined in the single collinear beam and passed to nonlinear converter. This could be SHG, or twophoton absorption measurement, or something else depending on particular device construction. Thus the signal from photodetector is proportional to the square of the sum of replicas intensities. Combining the signals from scanning unit as time delay (or as X-coordinate), and from photodetector as amplitude (or as Y-coordinate) one obtains the interferometric autocorrelation of an investigated laser pulses.

Del Mar Photonics, Inc.
4119 Twilight Ridge
San Diego, CA 92130
tel: (858) 876-3133
fax: (858) 630-2376
Skype: delmarphotonics
sales@dmphotonics.com
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