IMRA Femtolite Ultra High-Power Femtosecond Fiber Laser

Overview

The IMRA Femtolite Ultra is a compact, turnkey femtosecond fiber laser oscillator engineered for precision ultrafast photonics applications requiring robust, maintenance-free operation in laboratory and industrial environments. Based on all-fiber chirped-pulse amplification (CPA)-free oscillator architecture, the Femtolite Ultra delivers transform-limited pulses directly from a monolithic polarization-maintaining fiber cavity—eliminating free-space alignment and enabling long-term amplitude and timing stability. Designed as the evolutionary successor to IMRA’s pioneering 1995 commercial fiber laser platform, it integrates high-repetition-rate (50 MHz) mode-locked operation with sub-110 fs pulse durations across multiple near-infrared wavelengths (780 nm, 810 nm, and 1560 nm), supporting both single- and dual-wavelength synchronous output configurations. Its solid-state, air-cooled design ensures continuous operation without active thermal management, making it suitable for integration into OEM instruments—including multiphoton microscopes, THz time-domain spectrometers, and quantum optical testbeds—where space, reliability, and electromagnetic compatibility are critical constraints.

Key Features

• Ultra-compact footprint (<120 × 80 × 35 mm) and palm-sized form factor for seamless integration into confined optical setups or portable instrumentation
• Proven field reliability: Over two decades of continuous deployment with documented failure rates below 0.5% across >500 installed units
• Ruggedized mechanical design certified to IEC 60068-2-27 (shock) and IEC 60068-2-6 (broadband vibration), validated for use in mobile labs and production-floor environments
• Low-noise, high-stability output: ≤1% RMS power fluctuation over 24 hours; jitter <100 fs (integrated 10 Hz–10 MHz)
• Flexible control interface: Local front-panel operation plus TTL-compatible 5 V digital trigger input for external synchronization and gating
• Polarization-maintaining output with vertical orientation relative to mounting baseplate—enabling direct coupling into waveplates, modulators, and nonlinear crystals without realignment

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Femtolite Ultra is compatible with standard SMF-28 or PM980 fiber pigtails terminated with FC/APC or FC/PC connectors. It operates without external pump diodes or water cooling, eliminating fluidic interfaces and reducing contamination risk in cleanroom or biomedical settings. The system conforms to IEC 61000-6-3 (EMI emission limits) and IEC 61000-6-2 (immunity to electrostatic discharge and RF fields). While not classified as a medical device under FDA 21 CFR Part 820, its optical performance parameters meet typical requirements for Class 1 laser products per IEC 60825-1:2014. For GLP/GMP-aligned installations, full traceable calibration records—including pulse width (autocorrelator-verified), center wavelength (wavemeter-traceable), and power stability logs—are provided with each unit.

Software & Data Management

The Femtolite Ultra operates autonomously without host software; however, optional USB-to-TTL adapters enable integration with LabVIEW, Python (PySerial), or MATLAB-based automation frameworks for scheduled power cycling, status polling, and interlock monitoring. All operational parameters—including runtime hours, temperature history, and internal photodiode feedback traces—are stored in non-volatile memory and accessible via RS-232 serial query. Audit trails comply with basic data integrity principles outlined in ALCOA+ (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate), supporting documentation for ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories conducting ultrafast optical characterization.

Applications

• Multiphoton fluorescence microscopy (MPM): Dual-wavelength variants (e.g., CX-20*) support simultaneous excitation of GFP and RFP with precise temporal overlap for ratiometric imaging
• Terahertz generation and detection: 780 nm and 1560 nm outputs drive photoconductive antennas and nonlinear crystals (ZnTe, GaP) with optimized phase-matching bandwidth
• Ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy: Sub-100 fs pulses enable resolution of carrier relaxation dynamics in 2D materials and perovskites
• Frequency comb seeding: Stable 50 MHz repetition rate serves as a low-noise reference for octave-spanning supercontinuum generation in highly nonlinear fiber
• Two-photon polymerization (2PP): High peak intensity at 780 nm enables sub-diffraction-limit 3D lithography of biocompatible hydrogels and ORMOCER resins
• Quantum optics experiments: Low timing jitter and polarization fidelity support Hong-Ou-Mandel interference and entangled photon pair generation via SPDC

FAQ

Is the Femtolite Ultra FDA-cleared for clinical use?

No—it is a research-grade laser source intended for laboratory and industrial instrumentation integration, not for direct human exposure or diagnostic applications.

Can the output wavelength be tuned?

No—each model is factory-optimized for a fixed center wavelength (780 nm, 810 nm, or 1560 nm); tuning requires discrete hardware variants.

What is the expected lifetime of the gain fiber?

Based on accelerated aging tests and field data, the polarization-maintaining erbium/ytterbium-doped fiber exhibits >50,000 hours MTBF under continuous operation at rated power.

Does it support external cavity synchronization?

Yes—via the 5 V TTL input, users can achieve sub-ns timing alignment with external RF sources or delay generators for pump-probe or interferometric applications.

Is service support available outside North America?

Yes—IMRA maintains authorized service partners in Germany, Japan, and China, with spare parts logistics aligned to ISO 13485-compliant distribution channels.