Ti:Sapphire Femtosecond Laser (<8 fs)


  • Ti:Sapphire Laser with <8 fs Pulse Width
  • >600 mW Average Output and >200 nm Bandwidth
  • 85 MHz Repitition Rate
  • Robust Design and Turnkey Operation

OCTAVIUS-85M-HP

Ti:Sapphire Oscillator, <8 fs, >200 nm Bandwidth

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Applications

  • Attosecond Science and High Harmonic Generation (HHG)
    • Optional CE-Phase Stabilization for Ti:Sa Chirped Pulse Amplifier (CPA) Seeding
    • Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplifier (OPCPA) Seeding
  • Two-Photon Fluorescent Imaging
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • THz Experiments
  • Nonlinear Optics
  • Ultrafast Spectroscopy
Octavius Output Spectrum
Click to Enlarge

OCTAVIUS-85M-HP Ti:Sapphire Oscillator Output Spectrum
Laser Warning Label
Laser Warning Label

Features

  • Long Term Output Power Stability (±1% Over 900 Hours)
  • >600 mW Output Power and <8 fs Pulse Width
  • Turnkey, Maintenance-Free Operation
  • Low Cost of Ownership

Thorlabs' Octavius® Femtosecond Laser is a maintenance-free, ti:sapphire oscillator that emits one of the broadest spectra commercially available. It has a high average output power of >600 mW, while maintaining a <8 fs transform-limited pulse width. The broadband spectrum of this ultrafast laser system is well suited for amplifier seeding, particularly for Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplifiers (OPCPA), or use in pump/probe experiments. For detailed specifications, please see the Specs tab. 

The Octavius ti:sapphire fs laser is ideal for life science applications such as multiphoton or coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) imaging. With a pulse duration of less than 8 fs, this laser provides an exceptionally high peak power of more than 700 kW and a large spectral bandwidth spanning more than 200 nm at -10 dB. This wide bandwidth, covering more than half the typical tuning range of most ti:sapphire oscillators, allows for the simultaneous excitation of several spectrally separated fluorophores at their optimal absorption wavelengths without tuning. 

Technology
The Octavius fs laser is a soft-aperture Kerr-lens mode-locked (KLM) ti:sapphire laser. The laser cavity incorporates dispersion-compensating mirror (DCM) pairs, which are required for smooth, high-precision group delay control over the octave-wide bandwidth. The fabrication of these unique mirror pairs requires the optimization of a 150-coating-layer design.

Mechanical Design
Ease of use and mechanical robustness were at the forefront of the design for the Octavius fs laser. Unlike typical laser designs, which use traditional translation stages for tuning and alignment, the alignment of the Octavius is controlled via a unique flexure stage design that eliminates the various materials generally used for springs, bearings, and frames while still maintaining unprecedented accuracy and repeatability. Custom tooling and fixtures guarantee stress-free machining during production and therefore minimize drifts and misalignment of the laser cavity caused by stress relaxation.

Pump Laser
The Octavius Ti:Sapphire Oscillator includes an integrated pump laser. The pump laser is based on state-of-the-art Optically Pumped Semiconductor Laser (OPSL) technology, which allows for high compactness. As an option, the Octavius is available without a pump laser; in this case, an input port can be used to direct the external pump laser into the ti:sapphire oscillator.

Please contact techsupport@thorlabs.com for more information about this system, customization options, or to request a quote.

Item # OCTAVIUS-85M-HP
Pulse Specifications
Transform-Limited Pulse Widtha <8 fs
Bandwidth (at -10 dB) >200 nm
Average Output Power >600 mW
Repetition Rate 85 MHz
M(at 800 nm) <1.3
Beam Diameter 750 µm (Nominal)
Beam Ellipticity 1.15 (Nominal)
Divergence <2 mrad
Polarization Ratio
>90:1
Power Stability Over 8 Hours ±0.3%
RMS Noise (10 Hz to 625 kHz) <0.2%
Physical Specifications
Laser Housing Dimensions 575 mm x 417 mm x 140 mm (22.6" x 16.4" x 5.5")
Controller Dimensions 432 mm x 267 mm x 381 mm (17" x 10.5" x 15")
Controller Power Consumption 750 W
Chiller Dimensions 203 mm x 386 mm x 277 mm (8" x 15.2" x 10.9")
Chiller Power Consumption 625 W (Max)
Air Circulator Dimensions 483 mm x 178 mm x 330 mm (19" x 7" x 13")
Air Circulator Power Consumption 25 W
  • The output pulse is chirped to account for dispersive materials outside the laser. To obtain the transform-limited pulse width,
    dispersion compensation is needed to counter-chirp and compress the pulse.
Octavius-85 Spectrum
Click to Enlarge

Output Power of the OCTAVIUS-85M-HP
Measured Over 900 Hours

Click to Enlarge

Measured Spectrum of the OCTAVIUS-85M-HP
Laser Warning LabelLaser Warning Label

Laser Safety and Classification

Safe practices and proper usage of safety equipment should be taken into consideration when operating lasers. The eye is susceptible to injury, even from very low levels of laser light. Thorlabs offers a range of laser safety accessories that can be used to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries. Laser emission in the visible and near infrared spectral ranges has the greatest potential for retinal injury, as the cornea and lens are transparent to those wavelengths, and the lens can focus the laser energy onto the retina. 

Laser Glasses Laser Curtains Blackout Materials
Enclosure Systems Laser Viewing Cards Alignment Tools
Shutter and Controllers Laser Safety Signs

Safe Practices and Light Safety Accessories

  • Thorlabs recommends the use of safety eyewear whenever working with laser beams with non-negligible powers (i.e., > Class 1) since metallic tools such as screwdrivers can accidentally redirect a beam.
  • Laser goggles designed for specific wavelengths should be clearly available near laser setups to protect the wearer from unintentional laser reflections.
  • Goggles are marked with the wavelength range over which protection is afforded and the minimum optical density within that range.
  • Laser Safety Curtains and Laser Safety Fabric shield other parts of the lab from high energy lasers.
  • Blackout Materials can prevent direct or reflected light from leaving the experimental setup area.
  • Thorlabs' Enclosure Systems can be used to contain optical setups to isolate or minimize laser hazards.
  • A fiber-pigtailed laser should always be turned off before connecting it to or disconnecting it from another fiber, especially when the laser is at power levels above 10 mW.
  • All beams should be terminated at the edge of the table, and laboratory doors should be closed whenever a laser is in use.
  • Do not place laser beams at eye level.
  • Carry out experiments on an optical table such that all laser beams travel horizontally.
  • Remove unnecessary reflective items such as reflective jewelry (e.g., rings, watches, etc.) while working near the beam path.
  • Be aware that lenses and other optical devices may reflect a portion of the incident beam from the front or rear surface.
  • Operate a laser at the minimum power necessary for any operation.
  • If possible, reduce the output power of a laser during alignment procedures.
  • Use beam shutters and filters to reduce the beam power.
  • Post appropriate warning signs or labels near laser setups or rooms.
  • Use a laser sign with a lightbox if operating Class 3R or 4 lasers (i.e., lasers requiring the use of a safety interlock).
  • Do not use Laser Viewing Cards in place of a proper Beam Trap.

 

Laser Classification

Lasers are categorized into different classes according to their ability to cause eye and other damage. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies. The IEC document 60825-1 outlines the safety of laser products. A description of each class of laser is given below:

Class Description Warning Label
1 This class of laser is safe under all conditions of normal use, including use with optical instruments for intrabeam viewing. Lasers in this class do not emit radiation at levels that may cause injury during normal operation, and therefore the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) cannot be exceeded. Class 1 lasers can also include enclosed, high-power lasers where exposure to the radiation is not possible without opening or shutting down the laser.  Class 1
1M Class 1M lasers are safe except when used in conjunction with optical components such as telescopes and microscopes. Lasers belonging to this class emit large-diameter or divergent beams, and the MPE cannot normally be exceeded unless focusing or imaging optics are used to narrow the beam. However, if the beam is refocused, the hazard may be increased and the class may be changed accordingly.  Class 1M
2 Class 2 lasers, which are limited to 1 mW of visible continuous-wave radiation, are safe because the blink reflex will limit the exposure in the eye to 0.25 seconds. This category only applies to visible radiation (400 - 700 nm).  Class 2
2M Because of the blink reflex, this class of laser is classified as safe as long as the beam is not viewed through optical instruments. This laser class also applies to larger-diameter or diverging laser beams.  Class 2M
3R Lasers in this class are considered safe as long as they are handled with restricted beam viewing. The MPE can be exceeded with this class of laser, however, this presents a low risk level to injury. Visible, continuous-wave lasers are limited to 5 mW of output power in this class.  Class 3R
3B Class 3B lasers are hazardous to the eye if exposed directly. However, diffuse reflections are not harmful. Safe handling of devices in this class includes wearing protective eyewear where direct viewing of the laser beam may occur. In addition, laser safety signs lightboxes should be used with lasers that require a safety interlock so that the laser cannot be used without the safety light turning on. Class-3B lasers must be equipped with a key switch and a safety interlock.  Class 3B
4 This class of laser may cause damage to the skin, and also to the eye, even from the viewing of diffuse reflections. These hazards may also apply to indirect or non-specular reflections of the beam, even from apparently matte surfaces. Great care must be taken when handling these lasers. They also represent a fire risk, because they may ignite combustible material. Class 4 lasers must be equipped with a key switch and a safety interlock.  Class 4
All class 2 lasers (and higher) must display, in addition to the corresponding sign above, this triangular warning sign  Warning Symbol

Pulsed Laser Emission: Power and Energy Calculations

Determining whether emission from a pulsed laser is compatible with a device or application can require referencing parameters that are not supplied by the laser's manufacturer. When this is the case, the necessary parameters can typically be calculated from the available information. Calculating peak pulse power, average power, pulse energy, and related parameters can be necessary to achieve desired outcomes including:

  • Protecting biological samples from harm.
  • Measuring the pulsed laser emission without damaging photodetectors and other sensors.
  • Exciting fluorescence and non-linear effects in materials.

Pulsed laser radiation parameters are illustrated in Figure 1 and described in the table. For quick reference, a list of equations are provided below. The document available for download provides this information, as well as an introduction to pulsed laser emission, an overview of relationships among the different parameters, and guidance for applying the calculations. 

 

Equations:

Period and repetition rate are reciprocal:    and 
Pulse energy calculated from average power:       
Average power calculated from pulse energy:        
Peak pulse power estimated from pulse energy:            

Peak power and average power calculated from each other:
  and
Peak power calculated from average power and duty cycle*:
*Duty cycle () is the fraction of time during which there is laser pulse emission.
Pulsed Laser Emission Parameters
Click to Enlarge

Figure 1: Parameters used to describe pulsed laser emission are indicated in the plot (above) and described in the table (below). Pulse energy (E) is the shaded area under the pulse curve. Pulse energy is, equivalently, the area of the diagonally hashed region. 

Parameter Symbol Units Description
Pulse Energy E Joules [J] A measure of one pulse's total emission, which is the only light emitted by the laser over the entire period. The pulse energy equals the shaded area, which is equivalent to the area covered by diagonal hash marks.
Period Δt  Seconds [s]  The amount of time between the start of one pulse and the start of the next.
Average Power Pavg Watts [W] The height on the optical power axis, if the energy emitted by the pulse were uniformly spread over the entire period.
Instantaneous Power P Watts [W] The optical power at a single, specific point in time.
Peak Power Ppeak Watts [W] The maximum instantaneous optical power output by the laser.
Pulse Width Seconds [s] A measure of the time between the beginning and end of the pulse, typically based on the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the pulse shape. Also called pulse duration.
Repetition Rate frep Hertz [Hz] The frequency with which pulses are emitted. Equal to the reciprocal of the period.

Example Calculation:

Is it safe to use a detector with a specified maximum peak optical input power of 75 mW to measure the following pulsed laser emission?

  • Average Power: 1 mW
  • Repetition Rate: 85 MHz
  • Pulse Width: 10 fs

The energy per pulse:

seems low, but the peak pulse power is:

It is not safe to use the detector to measure this pulsed laser emission, since the peak power of the pulses is >5 orders of magnitude higher than the detector's maximum peak optical input power.


Posted Comments:
Andrei Miroshnichenko  (posted 2019-05-16 09:34:13.22)
Dear Thorlabs, Let me describe task I must solve. Thin (~200nm) and wide Molibden plate must be heated up to 1500C; depth of heating: 1 - 10nm. Could you recommend appropriate Laser short pulse source. Include price, please. Best regards, Andrei Miroshnichenko Korea Vac-Tec Co. Ltd. Senior R&D Tel: 82319443300
YLohia  (posted 2019-05-20 10:27:52.0)
Hello Andrei, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Quotes can be requested by clicking the "Request Quote" button above. We have reached out to you directly to gather more information about your application.
richard.lane  (posted 2013-08-07 16:57:21.753)
What safety goggles would you recommend for the Octavius-85M 6fs?
tcohen  (posted 2013-08-08 15:33:00.0)
Response from Tim at Thorlabs: The LG9 is our closest stock option but the L-Ratings do not fully spec the Octavius spectra. We are able to offer custom options and we will contact you to discuss our options.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
OCTAVIUS-85M-HP Support Documentation
OCTAVIUS-85M-HPTi:Sapphire Laser, <8 fs Pulses, >200 nm Bandwidth, >600 mW Average Output
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