Tunable IR Quantum Cascade Laser Sources

(A) DEVICES: Our QCLs are from Alpes Lasers SA in Switzerland.  You can visit their web site at www.alpeslasers.com.   QCLs are a recent development and Alpes is a principle commercial provider.  The following table summarizes the currently available products. 

For a list by wavelength of room temp PULSED DFB types available for fast (2-3 weeks) delivery, click here.

For a list by wavelength of room temp CW DFB types available for fast (2-3 weeks) delivery, click here.

For a list by wavelength of CW Cryogenic DFB singlemode devices in stock for fast delivery, click here!

At the 2003 Workshop on QCL Lasers held in Freiburg, Germany, Alpes made a presentation which documents the then-current state of the art (and which remains mostly valid), click here for a copy.  Very informative.

For a reasonably good summary of the Alpes product line and accessories, click here and open our 80+ page brochure. This file includes the "FAQ" below.  One stop shopping!

If you have questions, please email or phone us.  But we also note that your questions may be ones that have been asked before.  For a "FAQ" document, please click here.

QCLs are made on wafers.  Each wafer can contains many devices of similar performance (and more that do not work at all - that is "yield" or lack thereof).  Alpes has now build QCLs at a number of wavelengths in the 5 to 10+ micron region.  We encourage you to ask what wavelengths are available in semi-fabricated form as if one meets your needs it will be less expensive and faster delivery than an entirely new one.

(B) HARDWARE: You have 3 choices regarding hardware to operate "room temp" QCLs.

(1) The most elegant solution is to use the LS-03 made by Cascade Technologies in Scotland and offered in North America by Boston Electronics.  Click here for the product literature detailing Cascade's laser "head" and control electronics.  Call or email us for prices.

(2) Alpes offers a "starter kit" of hardware to stabilize the device temperature at any temp from -30C to +30C and to energize (drive) the device.  Details of the "starter kit" are contained in the brochure linked above as well as on the Alpes website..  For the USER MANUAL, CLICK HERE.

(3) DO IT YOURSELF: you need a thermoelectric cooler to hold the QCL at the temp required by the wavelength you intend to reach (see individual QCL test data to determine what that might be, but usually it is in the region of -30C to +30C).  You need a sealed housing to enclose the cooler and the housing (otherwise there will be condensation) and the housing needs an appropriate window.  You need a controller/power supply to run and stabilize the TE cooler.  You need a power supply to energize the QCL itself.  We leave the mechanics and optics of this to you, but recommend the ILX LDT 5900 as a TE cooler controller and the ILX LDX 3232 as a very suitable QCL power supply.  These are of course available from Boston Electronics.  Email or phone us for prices etc. 

Cascade Technologies in Scotland, who we represent, is (probably) world's largest purchaser of Quantum Cascasde Lasers.  As they purchase in quantity and as they have now in inventory more than tyhey need for their gas analyzer systems customers, they are offering selected "magic" gas analysis wavelengths at LOW PRICES from inventory.  Click here for details! 

In the wavelength region longer than 4 microns there are two types of tunable semiconductor lasers.  These are Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs, which operate at on near room temperature or sometimes at cryogenic temps) and Lead salt lasers (Pb-salts, which always require operation at cryogenic temperatures).  We now offer ONLY QCLs.  As we see it, Pb-salt lasers are "dead": something one would use in few situations and fewer soon.  With the advent of external cavity QC lasers by Daylight Solutions (which provide a  w_i_d_e  tuning range) we are unable to imagine any advantage for Pb-salts except "legacy" operating hardware.

Pb-salt Lasers

Pb-salt lasers are available from Laser Components GmbH in Germany these days.  They have sales offices in USA and UK as well.  Additionally Muetek IR Laser Systems GmbH in Germany offers variable temperature cryostats suitable for the operation of Pb-salt lasers.