MenHir Photonics MENHIR-1550 High-Repetition-Rate Solid-State Femtosecond Laser
| Origin | Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Model | MENHIR-1550 |
| Key Components | Solid-state femtosecond laser system with integrated fiber-optic and free-space output |
| Center Wavelength | 1560 nm ± 10 nm |
| Repetition Rate | Up to 2.5 GHz (standard: 250/500 MHz, 1/1.25/2/2.5 GHz |
| Pulse Width | < 200 fs, transform-limited |
| Average Output Power | >50 mW (MENHIR-1550), up to 2 W (MENHIR-1550+) |
| Pulse Energy | >0.05 nJ (MENHIR-1550), up to 1 nJ (MENHIR-1550+) |
| Peak Power | >0.1 kW (MENHIR-1550), up to 4 kW (MENHIR-1550+) |
| Spectral Bandwidth | >12.5 nm (3 dB) |
| Amplitude Noise | < 0.1% RMS (24 h) |
| Timing Jitter | < 30 fs (1 kHz – 10 MHz) |
| Beam Quality | TEM₀₀, M² < 1.05 |
| Polarization | Linear, PER > 23 dB (>200:1) |
| Output Interface | Polarization-maintaining fiber (FC/APC) and collimated free-space beam |
| Power Supply | 5 V / 2 A (MENHIR-1550), 24 V / 2 A (MENHIR-1550+) |
| Power Consumption | < 10 W (MENHIR-1550), < 50 W (MENHIR-1550+) |
| Cooling | Active air-cooling |
| Warm-up Time | < 10 s (cold start) |
| Dimensions & Weight | 240 mm × 160 mm × 89 mm, 5 kg |
| Operating Temperature | 5 – 45 °C |
| Analog I/O | Power modulation, alarm, internal lock, trigger, status monitoring |
| Digital Interfaces | USB, RS-232, Ethernet, CAN |
Overview
The MenHir Photonics MENHIR-1550 is a high-repetition-rate, solid-state femtosecond laser engineered for metrology-grade stability and ultra-low phase/amplitude noise in demanding scientific and industrial environments. Unlike conventional mode-locked fiber lasers or Ti:sapphire oscillators, the MENHIR-1550 employs an all-solid-state, monolithic cavity architecture based on nonlinear waveguide integration and dispersion-engineered Er-doped gain media. It generates transform-limited soliton pulses at 1560 nm with repetition rates scalable from 200 MHz to 2.5 GHz—enabling direct compatibility with telecom-band photodetectors, high-speed ADCs, and microwave photonics systems without external pulse picking or amplification. Its fully sealed, module-integrated design eliminates alignment sensitivity and ensures long-term drift-free operation under continuous 24/7 duty cycles—a critical requirement for optical frequency comb stabilization, RF photonics calibration, and space-qualified timing distribution.
Key Features
- Ultra-low amplitude noise (< 0.1% RMS over 24 hours) and sub-30-fs integrated timing jitter (1 kHz–10 MHz), validated per IEEE Std 1139 and ITU-T G.8272 for primary reference clock applications
- Transform-limited pulse generation (<200 fs) with near-diffraction-limited beam quality (M² 23 dB)
- Industrial-grade packaging: compact 240 × 160 × 89 mm chassis with active air cooling, cold-start operation in <10 s, and robust thermal management across 5–45 °C ambient range
- Multi-interface control architecture supporting analog (0–5 V modulation, TTL trigger, alarm/status lines) and digital protocols (USB 2.0, RS-232, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, CAN 2.0B) for seamless integration into automated test benches and GLP-compliant labs
- Factory-configurable repetition rate options—including standard 250/500 MHz, 1/1.25/2/2.5 GHz—and optional external RF synchronization via low-phase-noise PLL input for cross-system timing coherence
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The MENHIR-1550 operates within the C-band (1550–1560 nm), ensuring full compatibility with industry-standard single-mode and polarization-maintaining fibers (SMF-28, PM1550), InGaAs photodiodes, and silicon-based photonic integrated circuits. Its spectral bandwidth (>12.5 nm, 3 dB) supports octave-spanning supercontinuum generation when coupled to highly nonlinear fibers—enabling self-referencing in f–2f interferometers per ISO/IEC 17025-accredited frequency comb setups. The laser conforms to IEC 60825-1:2014 Class 1M safety requirements when used with specified FC/APC fiber terminations or enclosed free-space paths. All firmware and embedded control logic are designed to support audit-ready operation under FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11 guidelines, including electronic signature-capable logging of operational parameters, firmware version history, and environmental sensor data (temperature, supply voltage, laser diode current).
Software & Data Management
MenHir provides the MENHIR Control Suite—a cross-platform application (Windows/Linux/macOS) enabling real-time monitoring of laser health metrics (output power, diode temperature, TEC current), remote configuration of repetition rate, pulse train delay, and analog modulation depth. The suite exports timestamped measurement logs in HDF5 format, compliant with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles. For high-throughput applications, the Ethernet interface supports SCPI command sets and TCP/IP socket streaming of raw sensor telemetry at ≥100 Hz update rates. Optional Python and MATLAB APIs allow programmatic integration with LabVIEW, Python-based quantum optics toolchains (e.g., QuTiP), and FPGA-based real-time feedback loops for adaptive pulse shaping or cavity locking.
Applications
- Optical Frequency Metrology: Primary comb source for optical atomic clocks, wavelength calibration of high-resolution spectrometers (e.g., astro-combs for exoplanet radial velocity detection), and traceable length metrology per BIPM CIPM MRA frameworks
- Microwave Photonics & RF Synthesis: Low-phase-noise photonic microwave generation (up to Ka-band), optical sampling of ultrafast ADCs, and photonic-assisted analog-to-digital conversion with effective resolution >14 ENOB
- Quantum Technologies: Pump source for SPDC-based entangled photon pair generation, timing reference for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), and carrier-envelope-offset (CEO) stabilization in mid-IR OPO pump chains
- Space & Defense Systems: Radiation-tolerant timing distribution for satellite constellations (e.g., Galileo, GPS III), coherent LIDAR seed lasers with sub-picosecond pulse fidelity, and secure quantum key distribution (QKD) transmitters operating in free-space or fiber channels
- Industrial Process Monitoring: Real-time absorption spectroscopy for gas sensing (CH₄, CO₂, NH₃), ultrafast thermoreflectance imaging of semiconductor wafers, and time-of-flight mass spectrometry laser ion sources
FAQ
Is the MENHIR-1550 compatible with existing optical frequency comb stabilization systems?
Yes—the laser’s intrinsic low timing jitter, factory-trimmed repetition rate accuracy (±100 ppm), and optional RF synchronization input enable direct integration into f–2f interferometers and CEO detection loops without additional cavity-length actuators.
Can the repetition rate be tuned dynamically during operation?
Repetition rate is set at factory configuration or via software command; fine-tuning (< ±100 kHz) is achievable through analog voltage input (0–5 V) on the “Tune” pin, supporting closed-loop locking to external references such as Rb or Cs atomic clocks.
What level of environmental stability is guaranteed over extended deployments?
The unit maintains amplitude and timing stability within specification over 24/7 operation at constant ambient temperature; for field-deployed systems requiring thermal cycling resilience, optional conformal coating and extended-range TEC calibration are available upon request.
Does the laser support compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 calibration traceability requirements?
Yes—each unit ships with a NIST-traceable calibration certificate covering output power, center wavelength, pulse width (autocorrelation), and repetition rate, updated annually per accredited third-party metrology lab protocols.
Are OEM integration kits available for embedded system developers?
MenHir offers mechanical mounting frames, custom-length PM fiber pigtails with FC/APC or collimator options, and bare-board controller modules (with UART/Ethernet breakout) for integration into larger photonic subsystems under NDAs.
