Coherent introduces Opera, a femtosecond optical parametric amplifier (OPA) that extends the wavelength range of Ti:Sapphire kilohertz amplifiers from UV through mid-IR
Opera exhibits an unprecedented combination of high power, low noise, and automated performance, making it ideal for demanding ultrafast applications such as femtosecond spectroscopy and nonlinear optics.
Opera is presently available in three versions: the standard Opera tunes from 1150-2900nm, Opera-VIS adds output from 400-1150nm, and Opera-UV adds output from <300-400nm.
Opera can be pumped at 1 or 5kHz.
A 1.0mJ of pump energy produces 0.1mJ signal and 0.05mJ idler beams.
Opera also exhibits exceptional low-noise performance.
Additional versions are currently under development.
"We've used continuum generation as the technology at the heart of the Opera because of the low-noise inherent with this method," said Marco Arrigoni, marketing director for Coherent.
"Minimising noise in the initial stages of amplification is essential to achieving low pulse-to-pulse noise.
"What we've accomplished with Opera is a high-performance, automated OPA that generates two powerful and quiet signal and idler beams.
"The addition of harmonics allows tuning from 300 to 2630nm.
"In addition, the beam quality is excellent compared to other OPA designs.
"This makes it ideal for a multitude of challenging scientific experiments".
Although Opera is compatible with a number of ultrafast amplifiers, it is specifically designed to complement Coherent's Legend and Libra models.
Legend and Libra can pump up to three Operas, while Legend-HE can pump up to five Operas.
Pump pulse widths between 30 and 150fs are readily converted into tunable pulses of comparable duration.
For unprecedented control and hands-off operation, when Opera is used in conjunction with Coherent's Libra, it becomes the first totally automated 'seed laser-to-OPA' system.
Users can monitor and adjust daily operations through a single laptop computer interface.
This complete high-performance ultrafast laser system also places Coherent as the foremost provider of start-to-finish ultrafast systems where all components of the system are manufactured and supported by the same company.
