Recently, Ames Photonics have investigated the feasibility of using silicon photodiodes, like our Oculus USB photodetector, for detecting femtosecond laser pulse energy output. Silicon photodiodes offer potential advantages for the detection of ultrashort laser pulses. However, until now, no reliable information about saturation energy level, practical energy density and linearity of photodiodes under ultra-short laser pulse exposure has been available in the literature.

The results show that Si photodiode have several advantages compared to other commonly used photosensors, including:

• Excellent linearity of output current as a function of incident light
• Very high sensitivity-can typically resolve pJ levels
• Spectral response from 190 nm to 1100 nm (Si), longer wavelengths with other semiconductor detectors

The complete report is available for download here.

Ames Photonics is pleased to announce the release of the new IRA-USB series of InGaAs detectors.

These detectors are sensitive over the 800nm - 2.6 micron spectral region, and achieve exposure/integration times as short as 40 microseconds.

These capabilities make the IRA-USB ideal for short pulse laser measurements, and for absorption measurements where high light levels can be used.

The compact, fully integrated head includes the USB interface and TE cooling electronics. Cool down and temperature stabilisation times are short (<2 minutes). The dark current in 1.7 micron InGaAs sensors is so low that they can be used at room temperature for many general NIR measurements.

For further details, download specification sheet here, or contact us.

Ames Photonics LARRY and GARRY series are two families of linear CCD array detectors which offer cost-effective, scientific-grade performance to suit a wide range of spectroscopic applications. They are compatible with virtually all commercial spectrometers, making them ideal for upgrading existing systems or for incorporation into flexible new spectroscopic tools and instruments.

Supported by a wide range of accessories, including software packages for data acquisition and analysis, mounting hardware and more, these are ideal detector choices around which to configure a modular solution for your spectroscopic application.

The LARRY series (pictured) is ideal for general spectroscopic purposes.

The GARRY series (below) is designed primarily for applications requiring synchronization to pulsed sources, or for other time-sensitive measurements. These detectors incorporate on-board gating electronics.

All of our scientific-grade detectors are carefully tested and sorted as part of our stringent manufacturing and opimization process. We guarantee that they will exhibit no fringing effects across their full spectral range. All detectors include UV grade fused silica windows and are sensitized with a proprietary coating to extend performance from below 200nm to above 1100nm. 

The Ames Photonics S-cube is a versatile, low-cost, imaging spectrometer which offers a level of performance flexibility previously available only in much more expensive systems. It is intended to fill a gap in the market between entry-level spectrometers with limited capability to adjust key parameters, and systems providing flexibility but at significant cost. The S-cube offers a middle way: a reasonably priced spectrometer with excellent performance and wide versatility in a compact, modular package.

Based on a Folded Czerny-Turner layout, the system has been engineered from the ground up with the goal of allowing for quick and convenient interchange of components. Diffraction gratings, input slits and array detectors can all be replaced, allowing the S-cube to be easily and rapidly reconfigured for a very wide range of spectral measurements. Wavelength recalibration of the system after such configuration changes is achieved via a semi-automated routine employing onboard Hg/Ar and tungsten spectral calibration lamps.

The S-Cube is suitable for general spectroscopy, but it has been specifically optimised with laser spectroscopy in mind. High F/# and low coma ensure high resolution and low distortion of spectral lines. Further performance flexibility is provided by the ability to vary astigmatism across the wavelength spectrum.

Applications:

• Femtosecond laser spectroscopy (pump probe, CARS, photon echo
• Versatile, modular research spectrometer for UV-VIS-NIR
• Excellent platform for teaching spectroscopy and spectral calibration
• Absorption and reflection measurements in VIS-NIR using onboard tungsten lamp coupled to optical fibre
• Measuring emission spectra

Over the past three decades a variety of detection techniques have been used to probe the ultrafast dynamics of complex molecular and semiconductor systems. These techniques include absorption, fluorescence, multiphoton ionisation, photoelectron detection, fourwave mixing, stimulated Raman and photon echo. Very recently there has been much interest in developing multidimensional femtosecond laser techniques similar to those successfully used in NMR to study ultrafast dynamical processes. These include non-linear multiple-pulse coherent techniques which probe correlations between the electric fields generated in the phasematching directions by the different laser pulses and allow detailed spectroscopic information to be obtained in the presence of inhomogeneous broadening.

In the image shown above, three laser pulses generate third (or higher) order polarization and result in spatially distributed electric fields generated in various phase-matching directions. From this data, detailed spectroscopic information can be extracted.

Ames Photonics prides itself on the wide range of proven, reliable software available to support its range of linear detectors. Our software is best-in-class, offering unmatched power and flexibility.

All of our detectors come bundled with our SpectraArraySL software for data acquisition and analysis on a single-user system. The software incorporates many proprietary features, including for example, the display of all active spectra on the screen at the same time. LabVIEW drivers are also available.

The revolutionary new SpectraNet multiple user/single institution software provides total flexibility of control of any number of detectors. It can be set up on any number of PCs in the one institution, and supports remote control over a LAN. For OEMs who wish to develop their own control and analysis software the OEM developers kit is available.

For advanced mathematical analysis of spectral data we offer SpectraSolve, while for custom system control, development (such as the integration of drivers for other instruments with the Ames detector drivers), custom analysis and reporting, we have released SpectraScript.