Nanosecond Lasers
Definition: lasers emitting optical pulses with nanosecond durations
More general term: pulsed lasers
German: Nanosekundenlaser
Categories: lasers, light pulses
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Author: Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta
Optical pulses with pulse durations in the nanosecond regime are required for many applications, including material processing, distance measurements, and remote sensing. In most cases, they are generated with lasers, either by Q switching or by gain switching.
Q-switched lasers can deliver high pulse energies – for example, several millijoules from solid-state lasers with moderate sizes, and multiple joules from somewhat larger devices. Depending on design details, the emission may occur in a single longitudinal mode of the laser resonator, in this case leading to a very narrow linewidth.
Gain-switched lasers can also generate nanosecond pulses, but with much lower pulse energies. In the case of semiconductor lasers, the peak power is often limited to the order of 1 W. Gain-switched fiber-coupled semiconductor lasers are interesting seed sources for fiber amplifiers, and such MOPA devices are increasingly seen as a possible substitute for Q-switched lasers in many cases, at least for pulse energies not exceeding a few millijoules. One of the main advantages is the great flexibility of modifying both pulse repetition rate and pulse duration electronically, and keeping the pulse duration constant when the repetition rate is varied in large ranges. Also, such devices can be fabricated at lower cost.
Suppliers
The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 81 suppliers for nanosecond lasers. Among them:
Teem Photonics
Teem Photonics offers air-cooled diode-pumped passively Q-switched lasers, for nanosecond pulse emission. Available emission wavelengths is at 1064 nm and 1535 nm; other wavelengths can be considered upon request.
NKT Photonics
If you need a versatile, sub-nanosecond pulsed laser system designed for all industrial applications, the KATANA laser is an excellent choice. If you need high power, choose the KATANA HP. In the standard configuration, the KATANA HP provides pulses of 35 or 700 ps duration, depending on the model. The standard pulse repetition rate is either 100 kHz to 1 MHz or 20 to 80 MHz. The laser pulse can be triggered from an external source (in either master or slave mode). Continuous tuning of the repetition rate is standard. No alignment is required making this laser maintenance-free and ensures you a low cost of ownership.
RPMC Lasers
RPMC Lasers offers one of the widest wavelength selections of nanosecond lasers available ranging from the UV through the IR. Our offerings include DPSS lasers, flashlamp pumped lasers, fiber lasers, and microchip lasers with pulse energy as high as 300 J and pulse repetition rates up to the MHz range.
EKSPLA
Short pulse durations, a wide range of customization options and high stability are distinctive feature of EKSPLA nanosecond Q-switched lasers. Employing latest achievements in laser technologies, our team of dedicated engineers has designed a wide range of products tailored for specific applications: from compact, simple and robust EKSPLA nanosecond Q-switched DPSS NL230 series lasers for OEM manufacturers to high energy customized flash-lamp multijoule systems for research laboratories.
Second (532 nm), third (355 nm), fourth (266 nm) and fifth (213 nm) (where available) harmonic options combined with various accessories and customization possibilities make these lasers well suited for many OEM and laboratory applications like OPO, OPCPA, Ti:sapphire and dye laser pumping, spectroscopy, remote sensing and plasma research.
IPG Photonics
IPG’s nanosecond fiber lasers are ideal for industrial applications from laser ablation, marking, trimming, scribing, micro-machining, diamond and silicon cutting, to high speed hole drilling. They feature low divergence and can provide the fluence required for high speed marking of both plastics and metals, including highly reflective materials. High power lasers are optimized for surface treatment applications. From UV to mid-IR, from 1 W to 5 kW, the versatility of IPG's pulsed fiber lasers is unparalleled.
Lumibird
Lumibird manufactures a wide range of nanosecond pulsed lasers thanks to its expertise in three key technologies: solid-state lasers, fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers, and laser diodes. Various application areas are addressed in industry (manufacturing, lidar sensors), science (laboratories and universities), medical (ophthalmology) and defense.
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See also: lasers, pulse generation, Q switching, Q-switched lasers, gain switching, pulse duration, picosecond lasers, femtosecond lasers
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