Ultrafast Pulse Diagnostics

Pulse Management

Wavelength Conversion

Acousto-optics

GVD graph

Femto Control
Data Sheet

The FemtoControl is a compact, motor driven dispersion control device.

APE has developed the compact dispersion control device FemtoControl for optimizing the length of femtosecond pulses in an easy and efficient way. Dispersion control has become indispensable wherever ultra-short laser pulses pass through a certain amount of optical material, e.g. in a microscope. The result is non-negligible temporal broadening of the pulse and therefore a decrease of the peak intensity.
The FemtoControl is based on a 2-prism dispersion control design. It allows for efficient remote control of the width of femtosecond pulses. The instrument can compensate positive dispersion of laser pulses from 680 ... 1080 nm with a minimum input pulse width of 70 fs.
By moving the motorized prisms in and out of the beam and thus, changing the mount of positive material dispersion, the total dispersion (as a sum of the positive material dispersion of the prisms as well as the the negative angle dispersion generated by the dispersed beam behind the first prism) can be varied.

As an example, material dispersion in a Multi-Photon-Excitation (MPE) microscope of around 13 000 fs² causes a broadening of a 100 fs pulse at 800 nm to about 370 fs.
By using the negative dispersion of the FemtoControl, the positive dispersion of the MPE microscope optics can be pre-compensated and thus, the pulse will exit the objective with about its original length of 100 fs.

Optimal pulse management can be achieved by the combination of a FemtoControl and the autocorrelator Carpe, which has been developed for the special needs of microscopy. It measures the pulse width before the beam enters the microscope and – with a second external detector – also at the sample location. The Carpe contains an option for control loop with the dispersion pre-compensation. The device stands out by its compact design and ease of use.

Features
  • Ideal for Multi-Photon-Microscopy
  • Wide range of dispersion
  • Controller can interact with laser source controller
  • User-friendly operation
  • Zero GVD function
  • Automated prism drive corresponding to stored GVD-curves
Specifications  
Wavelength range 680 ... 1080 nm
Beam diameter < 4 mm
Transmission > 90 % @ 800 nm
Input polarization Linear / horizontal
Laser repetition rate Any
Bandwidth of dispersion pre - compensation < 12.5 nm @ 800 nm
Dispersion range Center Wavelength min max  
700 nm
0 ...
- 23000 fs2
800 nm
0 ...
- 13000 fs2
900 nm
0 ...
- 8000 fs2
  More dispersion on request
Option
  • Dispersion management in combination with APE autocorrelator Carpe
Distributors
Australia: Coherent Scientific
China: Pinnacle / PulsePower
France: Optoprim
Great Britain and Ireland: Photonic Solutions
India: Laser Science
Israel: Ammo Engineering
Japan: Phototechnica
Poland: Eurotec
Scandinavia, Baltic States: Gammadata
Spain, Portugal: Innova Scientific
Switzerland: Dyneos
Taiwan: SuperbIN
USA and Canada: AP&E