Mendocino – Fiber Based Femtosecond/Picosecond Benchtop and OEM Module Lasers (FPL)
The Mendocino series is a range of passively mode-locked ultrafast fiber lasers (FPL) that provides reliable optical pulses from sub 100 fs to 20 ps at MHz repetition rates. With both benchtop (FPL-0) and OEM module (FPL-M) versions and wavelength coverage from 780 to 1550 nm, it is one of the industry’s most versatile ultrafast fiber laser platforms.
The Mendocino benchtop (FPL-0) series offers a wide range of capabilities with pulse widths from 100 fs to 20 ps at MHz repetition rates, wavelength options of 780 nm, 850 nm, 1030 nm, 1064 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm, and GHz low-jitter synchronization signals. As self-contained ultrafast fiber laser systems with an integral power supply, the Mendocino FPL-0 series provides user-friendly front panel control knobs for adjustment of the output power and pulse width. These systems are perfect short pulse optical sources for many test and measurement applications. The lasers utilize a proprietary saturable absorber that has been developed and perfected over a twenty-year period to provide reliable performance at turn–on and a stable train of ultrafast optical pulses. Different synchronization outputs are available with GHz (high harmonic) options that can provide a time domain persistent timing jitter of less than 0.25 ps. All systems feature a convenient fiber pigtail output with a standard FC/APC connection to facilitate coupling with datacom, telecommunications and measurement equipment.
The Mendocino series of OEM modules (FPL-M) is a range of rugged, customizable, passively mode-locked ultrafast fiber lasers that provide pulses from sub 100 fs to 20 ps at MHz repetition rates with wavelength options at 780 nm, 925 nm, 1030 nm, 1064 nm, and 1550 nm. These systems utilize a proprietary saturable absorber that has been developed and perfected over a twenty-year period to deliver stable, reliable performance at turn–on. With both free-space and fiber-delivery options, they are generally employed as high quality femtosecond seed sources for higher energy laser systems. The modules feature a robust architecture, which is insensitive to shock and vibration and provides exceptional stability for demanding OEM applications. An advanced engineering design and consistent manufacturing process ensure the highest quality standards for volume production. The FPL-M series can be used as a stand-alone femtosecond laser with a 5 V DC power supply or a separate driver for integration as an OEM module. The Mendocino LDR module, designed for optical communications and high resolution LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)/3D sensing applications, can be easily battery-powered. Other features of the Mendocino series include an optional integral micro-controller for remote control, data logging, and performance monitoring.
The benchtop (FPL-0) series is the perfect short pulse optical source for a variety of test and measurement applications. Along with a portable design, the series offers user-friendly front panel control knobs for adjustment of the output power and pulse width.
| Benchtops | Wavelength (nm) | Pulse Width1 (ps) | Avg Power (mW) | Rep Rate (MHz) | Power Stability (RMS%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 780 nm Low Jitter Fiber ps | 780 | < 2 | > 0.5 | 10 - 80 | < 0.5 |
| 850 nm Low Jitter Fiber ps | 850 | < 2 | > 0.5 | 10 - 80 | < 0.5 |
| 1030 or 1064 nm Medium Power | 1030 or 1064 | compressible to 0.2 - 0.4 | 1 - 3 | 27, 50, 100 | < 0.5 |
| 1030 or 1064 nm High Power | 1030 or 1064 | compressible to 0.1 - 0.3 | > 100 | 27, 55, 100 | < 0.5 |
| 1030 or 1064 nm Picosecond | 1030 or 1064 | 5 - 20 | > 5 | 20 ~ 100 | < 1.0 |
| 1310 nm Low Power, Low Jitter | 1310 | < 0.3 | > 0.5 | 20 | < 0.5 |
| 1550 nm Low Power, Low Jitter | 1550 | < 0.5 | > 0.5 | 20 | < 0.5 |
| 780 AND 1550 nm Low Jitter Fiber fs | 780 or 1550 | < 0.2, < 0.5 | > 0.5 | 20 | < 0.5 |
| 850 AND 1550 nm Low Jitter Fiber fs | 850 or 1550 | < 0.2, < 0.5 | > 0.5 | 20 | < 0.5 |
| 1550 nm High Power, Fiber Pigtail | 1550 | < 0.1 | up to 350 | 100 | < 1.0 |
Key Mendocino Applications Include:
- High speed receiver conformance testing
- Photodetector characterization
- Optical metrology
- Materials characterization
- Silicon integrated circuit testing
- Seed source for higher energy laser systems
- Biophotonics
- Terahertz generation
- Biomedical instrumentation
- Optical high speed sampling
- Ultrafast spectroscopy
- Optical switching
| Product | Wavelength (nm) | Pulse Width1 (ps) | Avg Power (mW) | Rep Rate (MHz) | Power Stability (RMS%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 780/850 nm Low Jitter Femtosecond | 780 or 850 | < 2 | > 0.5 | 20 | < 0.5 |
| 780/850 and 1550 nm Low Jitter fs | 780/850 or 1550 | < 0.2, < 0.5 | > 0.5 | 20 | < 0.5 |
| 780/850 nm Medium Power fs | 780 or 850 | < 5 | > 30 | 50 ~ 80 | < 1.0 |
| 1030 or 1064 nm Low Power fs | 1030 or 1064 | compressible to 0.2 - 0.4 | > 1 - 3 | 27, 55, 100 | < 1.0 |
| 1030 or 1064 nm High Power fs | 1030 or 1064 | compressible to 0.1 - 0.3 | > 100 | 27, 55, 100 | < 1.0 |
| 1030 or 1064 nm Picosecond | 1030 or 1064 | 5 - 20 | > 5 | 20 ~ 100 | < 1.0 |
| 1310 nm Low Jitter fs | 1310 | < 0.3 | > 0.5 | 20 | < 0.5 |
| 1550 nm Low Jitter fs | 1550 | < 0.5 | > 0.5 | 20 | < 0.5 |
| 1550 nm High Power Fiber Pigtail | 1550 | < 0.1 | up to 350 | 100 | < 1.0 |
1 A sech2 pulse shape (deconvolution factor of 0.65) is used to determine the pulse width from the second harmonic autocorrelation trace.
(Due to our continuous improvement program, specifications are subject to change without notice).
Coronado: Compact erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, available as both benchtop systems (AMP) and OEM modules (AMP-M) amplifiers that provide broadband gain over the C-band (1530 to 1565 nm).
Carmel X: Compact high power, > 1 W average power at 780 nm, < 90 fs, ultrafast fiber lasers that incorporate both a Mendocino seed laser and a Coronado amplifier.
