Aculight has released an improved Argos single-frequency, continuous-wave (CW) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). Argos provides multi-Watt, widely tunable output in the near- to mid-infrared wavelength range. It can be used in photoacoustic and cavity-ringdown spectroscopy, atom trapping, chemical sensing and medical applications.
Argos is a rugged, fibre-pumped, singly resonant OPO that provides continuous tuning from 1.4 to 2µm and from 2.3 to 3.9µm using three interchangeable, pre-aligned, wavelength converter modules.
Because of its fibre-coupled pump source, Argos systems are highly robust. Unlike comparable tunable sources such as Ti:Sapphire or dye lasers, the units can be shipped to their destinations without requiring any re-alignment or expert installation.
Argos operates at room temperature and produces simultaneous output at two wavelengths, with available power of more than a Watt over the tuning range. The linewidth of the OPO output has been measured as low as 60kHz. In tandem with the device’s 50GHz mode-hop-free rapid tuning range, this enables high-resolution spectroscopy in a wavelength region where alternate laser sources are unavailable. Argos is also compact enough for use in facilities where space is at a premium - the OPO head measures just 4.9 x 7.5 x 13.9 inches with a control unit of 10 x 19 x 19 inches.