Avesta TeMa Ytterbium-Doped Solid-State Femtosecond Laser

Overview

The Avesta TeMa is a compact, diode-pumped ytterbium-doped solid-state femtosecond laser oscillator engineered for high-repetition-rate, low-noise, and turnkey operation in demanding ultrafast science and industrial applications. Based on Kerr-lens mode-locking (KLM) in a Yb:KGW or Yb:CaF₂ gain medium, the TeMa delivers transform-limited pulses centered at 1050 ± 5 nm with intrinsic stability and excellent temporal contrast. Its monolithic cavity design—integrated with a thermally stabilized pump diode module and precision-machined optomechanics—ensures robust alignment retention and long-term amplitude stability (<1% RMS after 30 min warm-up). Designed for seamless integration into amplifier chains, nonlinear frequency conversion setups, and time-resolved measurement platforms, the TeMa operates at a fixed repetition rate of 70 ± 5 MHz and supports optional harmonic generation and external pulse compression without realignment.

Key Features

• Diode-pumped, self-starting KLM oscillator with no active stabilization electronics required
• Two standard configurations: TeMa-100 (sub-100 fs pulses, >3.5 W avg. power) and TeMa-150 (sub-200 fs pulses, >6 W avg. power)
• TEM₀₀ spatial mode with linear polarization (>100:1 extinction ratio, horizontal)
• Compact footprint: laser head measures only 412 × 190 × 93 mm; PSU: 290 × 200 × 80 mm
• Integrated thermal management enabling continuous operation for >12 hours at ambient temperature post-warm-up
• Optional SHG module delivering >1.7 W (TeMa-100) or >3 W (TeMa-150) at 525 ± 2 nm with identical pulse duration characteristics
• Optional external grating-based pulse compressor enabling <15 fs compressed pulse width (measured via FROG or SPIDER)

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The TeMa is compatible with standard ultrafast optics mounts (e.g., Thorlabs KM100, Newport UMB series) and integrates natively with commercial amplifiers (e.g., Light Conversion PHAROS, Spectra-Physics Spirit), OPA systems, and scanning microscope platforms. Its optical output meets Class 4 laser safety requirements per IEC 60825-1:2014 and is supplied with interlock-ready connectors compliant with EN 61800-5-2. The system architecture supports traceable calibration protocols aligned with ISO/IEC 17025–accredited laboratories. While not certified to FDA 21 CFR Part 11, its deterministic, non-software-controlled operation satisfies GLP/GMP documentation requirements for seed laser qualification in regulated R&D environments.

Software & Data Management

The TeMa operates as a hardware-defined oscillator with no embedded firmware or user-accessible software interface—eliminating driver conflicts and ensuring deterministic timing behavior critical for pump-probe experiments. All operational parameters (pulse energy, repetition rate, central wavelength) are factory-set and mechanically stabilized. Power monitoring is facilitated via integrated photodiode output (BNC) referenced to a calibrated NIST-traceable sensor (optional). For system-level data logging, analog voltage outputs (0–5 V) correspond linearly to average power and enable synchronization with DAQ systems (e.g., National Instruments PXI, Keysight U1000 series) supporting IEEE 1588 PTP or TTL-triggered acquisition. No proprietary software installation is required.

Applications

• Seed source for chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) systems requiring high-brightness, low-jitter oscillators
• Excitation source in multiphoton fluorescence microscopy (MPM), particularly for deep-tissue imaging using Yb-based fluorophores
• Pump beam in time-resolved transient absorption and photoemission spectroscopy
• Primary driver for optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) and terahertz generation via optical rectification in ZnTe or GaP
• Supercontinuum generation in highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibers (e.g., NKT Photonics NL-PM-750)
• Reference oscillator in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and dual-comb spectroscopy setups
• Ultrafast pump-probe studies of carrier dynamics in 2D materials and perovskite semiconductors

FAQ

Is the TeMa compatible with third-party pulse compressors?
Yes—the laser output is collimated and astigmatism-corrected, meeting standard input requirements for commercial grating or prism compressors (e.g., Fastlite Carpe, Light Conversion ORPHEUS-COMPRESSOR).
Can pulse duration be customized beyond the standard specifications?
Pulse width is determined by cavity dispersion and gain bandwidth. Custom cavity optimization (e.g., Gires–Tournois mirrors, chirped mirrors) is available under OEM agreement, subject to minimum order quantity.
Does the system include beam diagnostics?
No built-in autocorrelator or spectrum analyzer is included, but the laser is fully compatible with commercial third-party tools (e.g., Mesa Photonics FROG, Bristol 721 spectrometer) via standard SMF-28 fiber coupling or free-space input ports.
What cooling method does the TeMa use?
Passive conduction cooling augmented by internal low-noise fans—no external chiller or water loop is required.
Is remote monitoring of output power possible?
Yes—via the analog monitor output (0–5 V = 0–10 W), which can be logged using any compatible voltmeter or DAQ system with appropriate scaling.