Femtum FA-2800 Mid-IR Erbium-Doped Fluoride Fiber Amplifier
| Brand | Femtum |
|---|---|
| Model | FA-2800 |
| Operating Wavelength | 2780 ± 50 nm |
| Output Power Range | 10 mW to >1 W |
| Small-Signal Gain | 10 to >20 dB |
| Beam Diameter (1/e²) | <3 mm |
| Beam Quality (M², avg. of X & Y) | <1.3 |
| Dimensions | 16 × 14 × 3.5 in |
| Cooling | Passive |
| Input Voltage | 100–240 V AC |
| Output Coupling | Free-space |
| Control Interface | PC-based software or integrated touchscreen |
Overview
The Femtum FA-2800 is a commercially available, all-fiber, erbium-doped fluoride (EDF) based mid-infrared fiber amplifier engineered for high-efficiency amplification of ultrashort and continuous-wave (CW) optical signals near 2800 nm. Unlike silica-based amplifiers, which exhibit strong absorption beyond 2.1 µm, the FA-2800 leverages low-loss fluorozirconate (ZBLAN) fiber host material doped with Er³⁺ ions—enabling robust gain operation across the 2.6–4.2 µm spectral window. Its design follows the principle of stimulated emission in a double-clad, cladding-pumped architecture, where 980 nm pump light is efficiently absorbed by Er³⁺ ions to populate the ⁴I₁₁/₂ → ⁴I₁₃/₂ transition, resulting in broadband amplification centered at ~2780 nm. This amplifier serves as a critical enabling component in ultrafast mid-IR photonics systems—particularly where high peak power, diffraction-limited beam quality, and compatibility with femtosecond seed sources are required.
Key Features
- Turnkey, rack-mountable system with integrated pump diodes and thermal management
- All-fiber 980 nm pump delivery with >75% optical-to-optical conversion efficiency
- Small-signal gain exceeding 10 dB, scalable to >20 dB depending on input power and configuration
- Diffraction-limited free-space output with M² < 1.3 (averaged over orthogonal axes)
- Passively cooled architecture—no forced air or liquid cooling required
- Flexible control interface supporting both USB-connected PC operation and embedded touchscreen GUI
- Compliant with IEC 60825-1:2014 Class 4 laser safety requirements when operated above 500 mW
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The FA-2800 is compatible with a broad range of mid-IR seed sources, including femtosecond optical parametric oscillators (OPOs), interband cascade lasers (ICLs), difference-frequency generation (DFG) modules, and mode-locked fiber lasers operating between 2730 nm and 2830 nm. It maintains polarization-maintaining (PM) input compatibility upon request and supports both pulsed (fs–ns) and CW inputs without saturation-induced distortion under specified peak power limits. The system adheres to ISO 13406-2 for beam classification, meets RoHS 2015/863/EU directives for hazardous substance restriction, and incorporates hardware-level interlocks compliant with EN 61800-5-2 for safe integration into automated laboratory environments. Full traceability documentation—including calibration certificates and spectral gain maps—is provided per unit for GLP-compliant laboratories.
Software & Data Management
Femtum’s proprietary AmpliControl™ software provides real-time monitoring of pump current, output power, internal temperature gradients, and gain stability metrics. Data logging is performed at 10 Hz resolution with timestamped .csv export, supporting audit-ready records for ISO/IEC 17025-accredited facilities. The software includes built-in routines for gain-vs-input-power characterization, ASE background subtraction, and long-term drift analysis over 72-hour intervals. Remote operation via TCP/IP is supported, enabling integration into LabVIEW, Python (PyVISA), or MATLAB-based experimental control stacks. All firmware updates follow signed binary protocols compliant with NIST SP 800-193 guidelines for firmware integrity assurance.
Applications
- Amplification of femtosecond pulses from Cr:ZnS/ZnSe oscillators prior to post-compression or OPCPA pumping
- Boosting output from tunable ICLs used in high-resolution molecular spectroscopy (e.g., CH/OH/NH stretch region analysis)
- Seed amplification for mid-IR supercontinuum generation in ZBLAN photonic crystal fibers
- High-field physics experiments requiring multi-watt average power at 2.8 µm for relativistic plasma interaction studies
- Time-resolved pump-probe setups targeting vibrational dynamics in biological tissues and polymers
- Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy excitation at 2800 cm⁻¹
FAQ
What is the maximum permissible peak power for femtosecond pulse amplification?
The FA-2800 supports pulses down to 100 fs duration at repetition rates up to 100 MHz, provided peak power remains below 5 kW to avoid nonlinear effects in the gain fiber.
Can the amplifier be configured for polarization-maintaining output?
Yes—PM fiber pigtails and free-space polarization control optics are available as factory options.
Is the system qualified for use in FDA-regulated medical device development?
While not an FDA-cleared device itself, the FA-2800 meets essential electrical safety (IEC 61010-1) and electromagnetic compatibility (EN 61326-1) standards required for Class II medical instrument subsystems.
Does the amplifier support analog modulation of output power?
No—output power is controlled digitally via setpoint adjustment; external AOM-based amplitude modulation is recommended for dynamic control.
What maintenance is required during routine operation?
None beyond periodic inspection of free-space output coupling alignment and verification of ambient temperature compliance (15–30 °C).
