Avesta EFOA-UB Ultra-Broadband Supercontinuum Light Source

Overview

The Avesta EFOA-UB Ultra-Broadband Supercontinuum Light Source is a compact, turnkey femtosecond fiber laser-based system engineered for stable, alignment-free generation of octave-spanning supercontinuum radiation in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. Operating on the principle of nonlinear spectral broadening—primarily through self-phase modulation (SPM), soliton fission, and dispersive wave generation in highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber (PCF)—the EFOA-UB delivers high-brightness, spatially coherent broadband output from 1100 nm to 2000 nm. Its core pump source is a mode-locked erbium-doped fiber oscillator, frequency-doubled and amplified to drive efficient supercontinuum generation in a precisely dispersion-engineered nonlinear fiber stage. Designed for laboratory integration rather than benchtop prototyping, the EFOA-UB eliminates manual optical alignment requirements via fully fiber-coupled architecture, ensuring long-term power stability (>98% RMS over 8 hours) and reproducible spectral shape under ambient temperature fluctuations.

Key Features

• Fiber-integrated design with FC/APC or FC/PC output port—no free-space alignment required
• Stable average output power exceeding 150 mW across full 1100–2000 nm bandwidth
• Repetition rate tunable between 50 MHz and 70 MHz, enabling synchronization with external detection electronics
• Compact form factor: laser head (180 × 210 × 70/90 mm) and separate PSU (230 × 200 × 100 mm) facilitate integration into space-constrained optical tables or OEM subsystems
• Thermally stabilized pump oscillator and passive fiber coupling ensure low amplitude noise (<0.5% RMS, 10 Hz–1 MHz) and minimal spectral drift
• Compliant with IEC 60825-1:2014 Class 4 laser safety standards; includes interlock-ready connector and key-switch enable

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The EFOA-UB is compatible with standard single-mode fiber (SMF-28, HI1060) and polarization-maintaining (PM) delivery fibers. Its NIR-centered spectrum is optimized for use with InGaAs photodetectors, silicon carbide (SiC) and mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) spectrometers, and commercial OCT interferometers operating in the 1300 nm and 1550 nm windows. The system conforms to essential regulatory frameworks for scientific instrumentation, including CE marking per Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) and 2014/35/EU (LVD), as well as RoHS 2011/65/EU compliance. While not certified for clinical use under ISO 13485, its stable spectral output supports GLP-compliant spectroscopic calibration workflows and meets typical traceability requirements for metrology-grade optical testing per ISO/IEC 17025 when operated within specified environmental conditions (15–25 °C, <60% RH, non-condensing).

Software & Data Management

The EFOA-UB operates as a stand-alone analog device with no embedded firmware or USB interface. Power-on sequence and operational status are indicated via front-panel LEDs (power, ready, fault). For spectral characterization and long-term monitoring, users integrate the output with third-party spectrometers (e.g., Ocean Insight HDX, Thorlabs CCS series) and control software such as OceanView, Thorlabs’ Kinesis, or custom LabVIEW/VB.NET applications via TTL sync output (BNC, 5 V logic). Spectral data acquisition may be logged with timestamped metadata for audit trails in regulated environments. Although the EFOA-UB itself does not implement FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic signature or audit trail functionality, its deterministic, analog operation allows straightforward validation of output stability and repeatability—critical for IQ/OQ protocols during instrument qualification in R&D and quality control laboratories.

Applications

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems requiring extended axial resolution in ophthalmic and dermatological imaging
• Nonlinear spectroscopy—including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) reference sources and pump-probe setups for carrier dynamics studies in 2D materials
• Calibration of NIR hyperspectral cameras and monochromator-based spectrometers (e.g., NIST-traceable wavelength and intensity verification)
• Testing of optical components such as AR coatings, fiber Bragg gratings, and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) filters across the telecom C+L bands
• Time-resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) using time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) platforms with NIR-sensitive detectors
• Atmospheric LIDAR and differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) source development for gas species detection (e.g., CO, CH₄, H₂O vapor) in the 1.2–1.8 µm window

FAQ

Is the EFOA-UB suitable for direct coupling into free-space optical setups?

No—the EFOA-UB provides only fiber-pigtailed output (FC/APC standard); free-space collimation requires an external fiber-to-free-space adapter and careful mode-matching alignment.
Can the repetition rate be externally triggered or synchronized?

Yes—the system accepts an external TTL trigger signal (5 V, 50 Ω) to lock the oscillator repetition rate within ±1 MHz of the input frequency, enabling precise timing control in pump-probe experiments.
What is the expected lifetime of the nonlinear fiber stage?

Under continuous operation at rated power and ambient temperature, the PCF module exhibits >20,000 hours MTBF; degradation manifests gradually as reduced short-wavelength (<1200 nm) spectral intensity.
Does Avesta provide spectral calibration certificates with each unit?

Yes—each shipped EFOA-UB includes a factory-measured spectral power density curve (0.5 nm resolution, calibrated against NIST-traceable reference detector) and power stability report over 24 hours.
Is the EFOA-UB compatible with vacuum or cleanroom environments?

The laser head is sealed against dust ingress (IP52 rating) but is not rated for vacuum operation; it may be installed in ISO Class 5 cleanrooms provided ambient humidity is controlled to prevent condensation on fiber connectors.