The descriptions of the new products listed in this section are based on information supplied to us by the manufacturers. Physics Today can assume no responsibility for their accuracy. To facilitate inquiries about a particular product, a Reader Service Card is attached inside the back cover of the magazine.
Pulsed blue LED
The Ocean Optics LS-450 pulsed blue LED excitation source produces a spectral output centered at 470 nm for fluorescence measurements. The lamps can be toggled on/off and configured through manual or software operation, to operate in pulsed mode—capable of being synchronized with detector scan rates—or continuous mode. To cover the visible spectrum, the LS-450 supports six user-interchangeable wavelength-specific LEDs, each of which is housed in a 12.7-mm reflector barrel. The colored bulbs include UV (380 nm), light blue (430 nm), green (518 nm), red (640 nm), and white (450–630 nm) LEDs. The LS-450 is designed for use with the company’s spectrometers, conveniently coupling to their sampling optics, and is available in standalone, rack mount, and USB-interface versions. Ocean Optics Inc, 380 Main Street, Dunedin, Florida 34698, http://www.oceanoptics.com
Circle number 181 on Reader Service Card
Thermal imaging camera
The OMEGA thermal imaging camera from Indigo Systems is reportedly the smallest, lightest IR camera ever built, consuming less than 1.5 W of power. The design combines the company’s vanadium oxide microbolometer detectors with on-focal plane signal processing, and an optimized 160 × 128 focal plane array to produce high-image quality and a thermal resolution of less than 40 mK when normalized to f/1.0. The camera can “see” at night through smoke and haze and discern temperature differences as small as 0.06°C. OMEGA features the company’s SmartScene video output to maximize picture quality and incorporates both analog and 14-bit digital outputs for direct support of machine vision and imaging applications. Indigo Systems, 5385 Hollister Avenue, Suite 103, Santa Barbara, California 93111, http://www.indigosystems.com
Circle number 182 on Reader Service Card
Silicon avalanche photodiode array
Pacific Silicon Sensor has announced the PSS AD-LA16-9DIL, a monolithic, 16-element, linear silicon avalanche photodiode (APD) array, based on the company’s series 9 near-IR–enhanced response APDs. The array provides a spectral response range of 400–1100 nm; each element has an active area of 640 × 239 μm2, a separation of 81 μm, and produces an output of approximately 60 A/W at a 905-nm wavelength. The AD-LA16-9DIL is housed in an 18-pin dual-inline ceramic package with a clear glass window and has the advantages of a low slope-multiplication curve, a typical uniformity of response between elements of ±5% at a gain of 50, a typical rise time of 2 ns, and a quantum efficiency of greater than 80% in the 760 to 910-nm wavelength range. Pacific Silicon Sensor Inc, 5700 Corsa Avenue #105, Westlake Village, California 91362, http://www.pacific-sensor.com
Circle number 183 on Reader Service Card
Fiber-optic bundles
CeramOptec Industries has introduced PowerLightGuide UV nonsolarizing (transmission not deteriorating with time), all-silica fiberoptic bundles that exhibit level, steady transmission at 95% of the original input. The bundles incorporate the company’s Optran fibers, operate over the 190 to 1200-nm wavelength range, and are fused at the ends to eliminate interfiber spaces without the need for epoxy. PowerLightGuides offer an advantage over liquid light guides because they transmit 50% more throughput without solarization, are available in unlimited lengths and a broad range of numerical apertures, and will not leak. Used in applications with temperatures as high as 1500°C, PowerLightGuides are said to be an effective solution for UV spectroscopy. CeramOptec Industries Inc, 515A Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts 01028, http://www.ceramoptec.com
Circle number 184 on Reader Service Card
Polarization analyzers
Thorlabs has announced the PA500 series of polarization analyzers (polarimeters) for measuring both fully and partially polarized light from free space and fiber-connected input. The instruments have a power range of 30 nW to 3 mW and a measurement rate of typically 30 Hz. Four standard models allow coverage over the 450 to 1600-nm wavelength range: PA510 (450–700 nm), PA550 (700–900 nm), PA560 (900–1100 nm), and PA530 (1100–1600 nm), all with an accuracy of ±1.0%. The optical apertures range from 3- to 8-mm diameter, depending on the model. The polarimeter provides graphical displays including the Poincaré sphere, polarization ellipse, voltage oscilloscope, and numerical data windows for full polarimetric characterization. Thorlabs Inc, 435 Route 206, P.O. Box 366, Newton, New Jersey 07860-0366, http://www.thorlabs.com
Circle number 185 on Reader Service Card
Subminiature photomultiplier tube
Hamamatsu’s R7400U-20 subminiature photomultiplier tube (PMT) has high sensitivity in the near IR, covering the 300 to 900 nm-spectral range. The new PMT incorporates an 8-stage electron multiplier comprising metal-channel dynodes, measures only 16 mm in diameter and 12 mm in length, and is said to be the world’s smallest PMT assembled in a TO-8 metal package. The R7400U-20 offers a radiant sensitivity of 78 mA/W at 630 nm, a quantum efficiency of 7% at 800 nm, and a fast response time of typically 0.78 ns. The PMT has a gain of typically 5 × 105 and a dark current of typically 2 nA. Modules are available combining the PMT with high-voltage power supplies and serial interfaces. Hamamatsu Corporation, 360 Foothill Road, P.O. Box 6910, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807-0910, http://www.usa.hamamatsu.com
Circle number 186 on Reader Service Card
Linear sensor array
Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions is expanding its 200 dots-per-inch linear sensor array product line with the addition of the TSL210 and TSL2014; both devices operate with a maximum clock rate of 5 MHz. The TSL210 is a 640 × 1 linear sensor array 80 mm long; it can be configured in a serial mode, forming a contiguous 640-pixel array or in a parallel mode with five outputs of 128 pixels each running on a common clock. The TSL2014, an 896 × 1 array 112 mm in length, is designed for scanning standard A6 format-sized documents, and can also be configured to run in a serial or parallel mode. Other applications for the devices include contact imaging, barcode reading, edge detection and positioning, linear and rotational encoding, and optical character recognition. Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions Inc, 800 North Jupiter Road, Suite 205, Piano, Texas 75074, http://www.taosinc.com
Circle number 187 on Reader Service Card
LED illumination products
Edmund Industrial Optics has added to its line of LED illumination products, lights that provide long lifetimes and low power consumption. The new lights include white lights and the RGB option, which allows the intensity of the red, green, and blue LEDs to be individually controlled. Both are now offered for the ring light, spotlight, line light, diffuse light, backlight, and darkfield light products. White and RGB light is typically used for color imaging systems while single color lights —such as the company’s 660-nm and 880-nm devices—are used for monochromatic applications. The LED illumination products can provide continuous or strobed light, depending on the power supply chosen. Edmund Industrial Products, 101 East Gloucester Pike, Barrington, New Jersey 08007-1380, http://www.edmundoptics.com
Circle number 188 on Reader Service Card
Digital-imaging system
Roper Scientific has released the Photometrics SenSys:3200ME, a high-resolution digital imaging system that features a large field of view and a 2184 × 1472 detection array. This 12-bit, cooled CCD camera was designed to match the resolution of optical microscopes using small, square pixels with a fine pitch (6.8 × 6.8 μm); the pixels can easily be binned to improve sensitivity. The camera incorporates microlenses bonded directly to the pixels, and uses indium tin oxide technology to boost quantum efficiency to approximately 88% at 580 nm (in the blue/green). The SenSys:3200ME, which uses thermoelectric cooling and improved electronics to reduce system noise, is compatible with the company’s PVCAM, thus enabling researchers to run the new imaging system under numerous third-party programs. Roper Scientific Inc, Photometrics Division, 3440 East Britannia Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85706-5006, http://www.roperscintific.com
Circle number 189 on Reader Service Card
Photon-counting module
The id 200 from id Quantique is a photon-counting module that works at telecom wavelengths and limits jitter to subnanoseconds. Based on an indium gallium arsenide/indium phosphide avalanche photodiode biased beyond breakdown voltage, it counts single photons in the spectral range between 1100 and 1600 nm. Working in gated mode, it features a quantum-detection efficiency higher than 10% at both 1300 and 1550 nm. The dark count probability is smaller than 5 × 10−5. The module comes as a standalone unit with a counter, display, and an internal clock with synchronization output. Applications include quantum optics, fiber-optic characterization, spectroscopy, and an eye-safe lidar. Id Quantique, 10 Rue Cingria, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.idquantique.com
Circle number 190 on Reader Service Card
Precision lapping machine
Logitech has announced the NGS precision lapping machine, developed especially for cases in which delicate and brittle materials such as III–V and II–VI semiconductors or sapphire wafers must be processed in bulk to precise tolerances. NGS has four automated load/unload workstations, each consisting of a self-loading and an unloading processing arm that can be lowered or removed from the processing plate individually or simultaneously. The machine can handle the high-precision angled polishing so critical in producing optical network components such as arrayed wave guides. NGS features an auto-lap system to enable the user to obtain repeatable material flatness, parallelism, and total thickness variation. Logitech Division of Struers Inc, 810 Sharon Drive, Westlake, Ohio 44145, http://www.logitech-us.com
Circle number 191 on Reader Service Card
New literature
Molectron Detector’s new catalog contains sections on laser power probes, fan-cooled probes, laser power meters, laser energy detectors, and joulemeter instruments. The catalog also covers instruments for measuring a variety of laser properties in custom applications. Molectron Detector Inc, 7470 Southwest Bridgeport Road, Portland, Oregon 97224, http://www.molectron.com
Circle number 196 on Reader Service Card
The 2003 Newport Resource catalog describes active vibration isolation modules and their control system. Also covered are precise motion control linear stages, UV-laser line–polarizing cube beamsplitters, and photonics test systems. Newport Corporation, 1791 Deere Avenue, Irvine, California 92606, http://www.newport.com
Circle number 197 on Reader Service Card
High-voltage amplifiers and function generators
The models 609E-6-FG and 10/10B-FG from TREK operate as either a DC high-voltage amplifier or a function generator to produce sine, square, or triangle waveforms over a frequency range of 0.2 Hz to 10 kHz. The 609E-6-FG provides 0 to ±4 kV DC or peak AC output voltages at up to 20 mA and can be configured as a noninverting, inverting, or differential output. The 10/10B-FG supplies 0 to ±10 kV DC or peak AC at up to 10 mA with a noninverting output only. Both units offer a gain of 1000 V/V and are protected against overvoltage and overcurrent conditions. They also include voltage and current monitors with buffered, low-voltage replicas of the high-voltage and current. These outputs can be used as feedback signals in a closed-loop system. TREK Inc, 11601 Maple Ridge Road, Medina, New York 14103, http://www.trekinc.com
Circle number 193 on Reader Service Card
Varactor tuning diodes
The 3022 series of high-ratio, hyperabrupt, varactor tuning diodes from Knox Semiconductor was designed to control crystal oscillator frequency with a DC-bias voltage. The capacitance variation of the diode (C/V) is approximately 10:1 over the voltage range of 0.3 to 4.0 V; a particular C/V specification depends on which one of four part numbers are chosen. The highly reproducible ion-implanted structure of the diode offers a high-capacitance swing, linear characteristics of the capacitance versus voltage variation, and uniform capacitance versus temperature coefficient. The diodes are available in industry-standard packages such as the SOT-23, SOD-323, and the subminiature SOD-523, as well as in chip form. Knox Semiconductor Inc, 12 Industrial Park Road, Rockport, Maine 04856, http://www.knoxsemiconductor.com
Circle number 194 on Reader Service Card
Toolset for sound and vibration applications
National Instruments’ new NI Sound and Vibration Toolset Version 2.0 has added frequency measurements, including zoom FFT, peak search, power-in-band, and more. The updated toolset builds on the company’s existing library of measurements and examples used in audio, acoustic, and vibration applications. The new version takes advantage of today’s multiprocessor computers to enable, for example, the user to perform real-time octave analysis on nearly twice as many channels in a dual-processor computer than with a single-processor computer. National Instruments, 11500 North Mopac Expressway, Austin, Texas 78759-3504, http://www.ni.com
Circle number 195 on Reader Service Card
