Device characterization with SuperK white light lasers
Characterization plays an important role in ensuring the quality, performance, and reliability of optoelectronic components. This includes devices for telecommunications, photonics, biomedical imaging, and materials science. You need specific methods for each component type.
Passive
- Lenses
- Mirrors
- Cover glass
- Gratings
- Optical filters
- Optical fibers
- Fiber components
Active
- Photodiodes
- Photodetectors
- Image sensors
- Display devices
- Photoelectric materials
Scientific
In low-volume scientific applications in an R&D laboratory, a flexible light source gives you the possibility to perform a variety of precise measurements without an extensive or complicated setup.
The broad wavelength range of our SuperK light sources lets you characterize a wide range of optical components, from mirrors and lenses to gratings and filters.
You get reliable data to efficiently optimize component performance, ensuring robust and high-quality results in your research and experiments.
… or industrial
Industrial users need high throughput to meet high-volume demands, and they often prioritize the Total Cost of Ownership and high reliability to minimize operational expenses and ensure consistent performance.
Our SuperK light sources are fiber-based and designed to run non-stop for thousands of hours.
When you want to optimize production processes and deliver top-quality components and systems, a SuperK offers the versatility and durability you need. It ensures fast and accurate testing due to its high brightness and broad wavelength range.
What do you want to measure?
Our SuperK lasers are trusted tools for device characterization in both industrial and lab settings, where they offer flexible and precise measurement capabilities.
- Easily perform transfer function measurements. This includes reflection and transmission assessments.
Conduct surface and layer uniformity inspections. Ensure precise and reliable results. Maintain high standards for quality control.
- Use QE (Quantum Efficiency) measurements and spectral responses to get calibration capabilities.
Ensure your measurements are accurate and keep your devices well-calibrated.
- Use our lasers in an ellipsometry system. Measure layer thickness on optical components accurately.
This system provides high-precision readings and enhances the quality of your analyses.
Your versatile high-intensity light source
The SuperK light source is a preferred choice for optical device characterization. It offers reliable, high-intensity broadband illumination all while maintaining a low total cost of ownership.
It delivers light precisely where it is needed and lets you measure a wide range of optical parameters.
- A broad and flat spectrum
- High brightness
- High reliability
- Low Total Cost of Ownership
- Light where you need it
A broad and flat spectrum
With flat spectral output and coverage from VIS to IR in a single light source, it becomes much easier to characterize components.
This is especially true for those covering broad spectral ranges, such as ambient light sensors.
High brightness
The intensity of the SuperK light source is ≈100 times greater than that of a typical incoherent broadband light source. As a result, you achieve a significantly higher signal level, particularly when measuring diffuse, opaque, and scattering materials. The exceptional brightness also results in shorter detection times and increased sample throughput.
High reliability
We run our SuperK light sources for over 10,000 consecutive hours to demonstrate their durability. Since 2016, we’ve conducted an extensive reliability program with rigorous tests to document performance and manage any degradation.
We conduct a 100-hour burn-in test of every light source to eliminate rapid degradation. The heart of the light source, the nonlinear fiber module, is designed to last 30-40,000 hours. To maintain a low total cost of ownership, the nonlinear fiber module can be replaced at predefined intervals.
Low Total Cost of Ownership
VIS applications
The total cost of ownership for a SuperK light source, especially in visible light applications (400-800 nm), is typically low when considering its entire lifetime of more than 5 years.
The total cost of ownership depends on various factors, including the application, power requirements, and blue light usage. In cases requiring blue light, more frequent fiber replacement may be necessary.
SWIR applications
The total cost of ownership for a SuperK in applications focused on Short Wave InfraRed or infrared light (>800 nm) will be limited to the initial cost of the laser throughout its lifetime of >5 years.
Degradation in the SWIR and IR spectra of a SuperK light source is so gradual that it’s typically undetectable over its lifespan, making replacement of the nonlinear fiber module likely unnecessary.
Light where you need it
Transport light up to 15 meters without losing intensity or brightness. Choose from a range of standard and custom light filtering and delivery solutions.
Device characterization solutions
Explore our three solutions tailored to meet diverse characterization needs.
Simple transmission characterization tasks
This affordable solution is ideal for simple VIS characterization of optical fiber and lenses.
Combine the SuperK COMPACT with a SuperK VARIA tunable filter to get light from 600-840 nm and >0.4 mW at 10 nm linewidth.
Key features
- Free space or fiber output
- 600-840 nm coverage
- Output power of >0.4 mW/10 nm line
- 10-100 nm line width
- Controlled via SDK or our intuitive CONTROL software
High brightness and powerful VIS characterization
This solution is ideal for characterization tasks that require high brightness and high throughput.
Combine the SuperK EVO with a SuperK VARIA tunable filter to get high brightness from 440-840 nm and >2 mW at 10 nm linewidth.
Key features
- Free space or fiber output
- 440-840 nm coverage
- Output power of > 2mW/10 nm line
- 10-100 nm line width
- Controlled via SDK or our intuitive CONTROL software
Advanced tuneable light source for all your characterization needs
The SuperK CHROMATUNE gives you full flexibility – at the click of a mouse!
This advanced tunable light source can handle all optical characterization tasks and gives you light from 400-1000 nm with a minimum output power of 1 mW and a linewidth of 5 nm. For more power, you can open the bandwidth all the way up to 50 nm.
The integrated software packages support characterization applications. And the built-in scripting functionality provides freedom to design your experiment protocols.
Key features
- 400-1000 nm coverage
- Output power of >1 mW per line
- 5-50 nm line width
- No alignment – easy to use
