QCL OEM Series Low Noise Laser Drivers

Output Current LD 0.5-2 A; Chassis Mount; Compatible with Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs)

In order to maintain their characteristically tight center linewidths and minimize jitter, quantum cascade lasers (QCL) must be powered by drivers with exceptionally low current noise density.

Wavelength Electronics’ QCL OEM series of module type low noise quantum cascade laser drivers have the lowest current noise density of any commercially available driver. Powering your QCL with this patented driver will enable better performance—at lower cost and in less time—than otherwise possible.

This is the right driver for lasers that require a high-precision and ultra-low noise current source. The 500 mA QCL OEM laser driver exhibits noise performance of 0.5 µA RMS to 100 kHz, and an average current noise density of 1.5 nA/√Hz—the lowest available today. The high modulation bandwidth and fast rise-time maintains modulation waveform integrity so you can shape the laser output profile exactly as your application requires.

The QCL OEM series drivers are used in trace element detection systems, both laboratory-based and field-deployed. This driver is well suited to applications requiring fast measurement times and ultra-high sensitivity.

The QCL OEM driver family is available in four different models with output currents from 0.5 up to 2 A, so that you can choose the ideal one for your application. With an additional QCL OEM(+) variant for each of the models, Wavelength Electronics addresses issues often present with with epi-down configurations of the QCL, where the exit lead is attached to the case and it is desirable to ground it. With QCL OEM(+) laser drivers, the reverse polarity driver, a current source, is available in the OEM package to address this need.

Wavelength Electronics can also modify the driver at the factory to suit your particular QCL application – for example for higher compliance voltage, higher efficiency operation or as “loaded PCB only” versions. For integrated temperature control, the PTC-CH series temperature controllers can be nested inside the QCL OEM heatsink. For more information download the QCLxPTCx series data sheet.

For benchtop use, the QCL LAB series of low noise quantum cascade laser drivers is available, featuring an integrated power supply, intuitive touchscreen front panel and remote operation software.

All the essential control and monitor functions you expect in a Wavelength laser driver are incorporated into this driver, along with protection circuitry to safeguard your QCL from minor power source faults, over-temperature conditions, and electrical faults. The soft-clamp current limit features a brick-wall never-exceed characteristic that prevents the QCL from being accidentally over-driven and damaged.

To help you get the best performance from your QCL LAB laser driver, please download the following application and technical notes: Manage Grounding to Minimize Noise with the QCL Drivers; Troubleshooting Low Noise Systems; How is Current Noise Measured at Wavelength Electronics. Free, effective, and responsive technical support is available to simplify integration of Wavelength products into your OEM design. Standard product can be easily modified to meet your application requirements. Get in touch with the AMS Technologies laser diode driver experts to discuss your customized solution!

Key Features:

• Module Type, Benchtop or Chassis Mounting
• Size: 140 x 166 x 59 mm
• Minimizes Linewidth, Drift & Jitter
• Low Noise - 1.3 µA RMS (QCL OEM), 2.0 µA RMS (QCL OEM(+), 100 kHz)
• Ideal for Precision Chemical Sensors
• Up to 2.0 A QCL Current
• Dual Supply Operation ±24 V
• Compliance Voltage up to 20 V
• Maximum Power Dissipation: 16 W
• Onboard Setpoint and Limit Controls
• Bandwidth 2 to 3 MHz (CC, QCL OEM), 0.5 to 2 MHz (CC, QCL OEM(+))
• Adjustable Soft-clamping Current Limit
• Brown-out, Reverse-voltage, & Over-voltage Protection
• Driver Over-temperature Protection Circuit
• Analog Modulation Input between -5 and +5 V
• Remote Power On, Enable, Setpoint
• Current Ramp: 100 ms (to Full Scale)
• Rise / Fall Times: 250/200 ns (QCL OEM), 950/1000 ns (QCL OEM(+))

Applications: Remote Detection of Explosive Materials; Medical Diagnosis Using the Breath; Non-invasive Glucose Testing; Emissions Monitoring of the Atmosphere or Marine Environments; Pharmaceutical Process Quality Control; Anesthesia and Hospital Air Quality Monitoring; Leak Detection; Remote Imaging; Cavity ring-down Spectroscopy