Variants
Alpha configurations
Standard Alpha, high-power Alpha HP, and extended-range Alpha MIR variants. The Alpha is configurable with output modules covering MIR, VIS, and NIR ranges; specific ranges and power levels depend on the selected configuration. Values below are representative for an Alpha pumped by the Primus at 42 MHz and 450 fs. Not all values can be reached at the same time.
| MIR | VIS | NIR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repetition rate | 10 / 20 / 40 / 80 MHz | ||
| Pulse duration | 100 fs / 350 fs | ||
| Tunability | 1.4 – 4.5 µm | 700 – 980 nm | 1.1 – 1.4 µm |
| Average power | up to 150 mW at 3 µm | up to 150 mW at 750 nm | up to 50 mW at 1.25 µm |
| MIR | VIS | NIR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repetition rate | 10 / 20 / 40 / 80 MHz | ||
| Pulse duration | 100 fs / 350 fs | ||
| Tunability | 1.4 – 4.5 µm | 700 – 980 nm | 1.1 – 1.4 µm |
| Average power | up to 700 mW at 3 µm | up to 500 mW at 750 nm | up to 200 mW at 1.25 µm |
| MIR | VIS | NIR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repetition rate | 10 / 20 / 40 / 80 MHz | ||
| Pulse duration | 100 fs / 350 fs | ||
| Tunability | 1.4 – 20 µm | 700 – 980 nm | 1.1 – 1.4 µm |
| Average power | up to 80 mW at 5 µm; up to 25 mW at 10 µm | up to 500 mW at 750 nm | up to 200 mW at 1.25 µm |
Versions
Pulse-duration options
The Alpha is available in different pulse-duration configurations. Each covers a wide tuning range; use the tabs below to compare typical output power across wavelength for a representative system.
Alpha 100 fs: typical tuning range at 100 fs pulse duration.
Alpha 350 fs: typical tuning range at 350 fs pulse duration.
Alpha 1 ps: typical tuning range at 1 ps pulse duration.
Performance
Outstanding passive stability
No regulator, no active feedback, no piezos. Exemplary long-term measurements on an Alpha HP 100 fs show:
- Power stability 0.2 %rms
- Spectral drift < 80 pm/h
- Maximum spectral power density variation 1.4 % in 10 h
- Relative intensity noise < −160 dBc/Hz
Typical values. Exact specifications depend on the configuration and pump laser. More at Technology.
Applications
Example experiments
- (s)SNOM microscopy and imaging
- Coherent Raman (SRS, CARS) microscopy
- (M)IR spectroscopy
- Time-resolved pump–probe spectroscopy
- Vibrational spectroscopy
- Multiphoton fluorescence spectroscopy
Options
Tailor the Alpha to your setup
Replicator option
The replicator option stores and recalls complete system states (spectrum, output power, module settings). All modules are supported. Integrated in AlphaTune and accessible via the same API used for third-party automation.
Modulator option
The Alpha can be equipped with a high-speed optical modulator. All outputs are modulated through a single input signal, with a fully integrated modulation architecture and full software support.
- Modulation frequency 1 kHz – 3 MHz
- Duty cycle 0 – 100%
Narrowband option
An optional narrowband configuration delivers a significantly reduced linewidth for high-resolution spectroscopy while retaining the Alpha's broad tunability.
Multi-branch option
Two or more independently tunable, optically synchronized output branches share one pump laser. The branches stay intrinsically synchronized, which makes them well suited to two-color pump–probe spectroscopy, coherent Raman (pump and Stokes from one box), and feeding several experiments from a single system.