The VisIR laser is a versatile and flexible platform based on a Master Oscillator Fiber Amplifier (MOFA) concept with frequency conversion. The master oscillator generates infrared picosecond pulses at 1064 nm, 1530 to 1560 nm, and 1950 nm (NEW!) with variable repetition rates up to 80 MHz using the proven gain-switching techniques from PicoQuant. The output of this seed laser is directly connected to a multi-stage fiber amplifier, which boosts the output from the seed laser by several dB while maintaining the other characteristics of the seed laser beam like the emission wavelength, polarization and the pulse width.
High Power Picosecond Laser
Compact stand alone device
The VisIR is a stand alone device featuring a special design optimized for maximum heat dissipation. While the classic VisIR laser modules were manually controlled through a series of switches and dials on the device’s front panel, this new generation of modules can now be easily controlled via a variety of interfaces. The VisIR can be connected to a PC via USB interface or (optionally) to a Sepia PDL 828 laser driver through a PicoQuant proprietary interface. In both cases, the VisIR can be fully controlled via an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) running under Windows. Additionally, the VisIR features an RS232 interface for serial connection.
The VisIR laser module includes all driving functions required for laser operation, such as choice of repetition rate, intensity and trigger source.
Average output power > 1.5 W
Average output power of typically 1 to 2 W can be reached in the infrared at optimal pulse repetition rate. Moreover, the high pulse energies of the amplified 1550 nm laser (any between 1530 to 1560 nm is available upon request) permit an efficient wavelength conversion using single pass second harmonic generation (SHG). In that way it is possible to generate picosecond pulses at any wavelength between 765 and 780 nm with an average output power of more than 1.5 W (e.g. VisIR-765-HP „STED“). The VisIR can be operated at 12 different internally selectable repetition rates between 31.25 kHz and 80 MHz and can also be triggered externally by TTL or NIM signals at any repetition rate between single shot and 80 MHz. This feature is extremely useful for a perfect synchronization of excitation and depletion laser in a stimulated emission depletion (STED) set-up.
Flexible pulse duration
The laser can be configured to generate either short pulses of 70 ps or extended pulses of 0.5 ns (FWHM). The extended pulse duration of 0.5 ns is ideal for e.g., STED microscopy as longer pulses or even continuous-wave excitation can expose the sample to an unnecessary amount of radiation, leading to increased photobleaching. By combining the VisIR with our programmable pulse generator PPG 512, the pulse duration can be configured to any length from 0.15 to 0.5 ns. This permits fine control of not only the pulse parameter but also the coherence length of the laser. This is of great help for diffusion measurements in medical application.
Excellent beam quality
Most VisIR models features a nearly perfectly circular and gaussian shaped beam profile (TEM00) which can be specified as a value of M² < 1.1, with a typical figure of about M² ~ 1.02. That is an important parameter for further accurate beam shaping (e.g. „STED-Donut“ for the VisIR-765-HP „STED“).
Fiber coupling
The VisIR can be optionally coupled into a variety of optical fibers (multi-mode, single mode, or polarization maintaining single mode) via different connector types. We recommend FC/APC connectors for most applications, since they prevent back reflections that can interfere with laser stability. For details see our solutions for fiber coupling.
The following table summarizes the optical specifications for the respective models
| Type | Wavelength [nm] |
Pulse (FWHM) |
Max. avg. power6 [W] |
Divergence [mrad] |
Beam diameter [mm] |
Beam quality |
| VisIR-7651 | 766 (± 1) | Typ. 70 ps | > 0.3 | < 0.5 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 (typ. ~ 1.02), TEM00 |
| VisIR-765-HP „STED“2 | 766 (± 1) | Typ. 0.5 ns3 | > 1.5 | < 0.5 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 (typ. ~ 1.02), TEM00 |
| VisIR-7751 | 774 (± 1)4 | Typ. 70 ps | > 0.3 | < 0.3 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 (typ. ~ 1.02), TEM00 |
| VisIR-775-HP „STED“2 | 774 (± 1)4 | Typ. 0.5 ns3 | > 1.5 | < 0.5 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 (typ. ~ 1.02), TEM00 |
| VisIR-10642 | 1064 (± 2) | Typ. 85 ps | > 0.75 | < 0.8 | 2.3 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 TEM00 |
| VisIR-1064-HP2 | 1064 (± 2) | Typ. 0.6 ns3 | > 1.0 | < 0.8 | 2.3 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 TEM00 |
| VisIR-15302 | 1531 (± 3) | Typ. 70 ps | > 0.75 | < 1.5 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 TEM00 |
| VisIR-1530-HP2 | 1531 (± 3) | Typ. 0.5 ns3 | > 1.3 | < 1.5 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 TEM00 |
| VisIR-1530-HC2,7 | 1531 (± 3) | Typ. 0.5 ns3 | > 1.3 | < 1.5 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 TEM00 |
| VisIR-15502 | 1550 (± 3)5 | Typ. 70 ps | > 0.75 | < 1.5 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 TEM00 |
| VisIR-1550-HP2 | 1550 (± 3)5 | Typ. 0.5 ns3 | > 1.3 | < 1.5 | 2.2 ± 0.2 | M² < 1.1 TEM00 |
| VisIR-19502 | 1950 (± 3) | < 100 ps | > 0.5 | < 3 | 0.6 ± 0.1 | M² < 1.3 |
| VisIR-1950-F2 | 1950 (± 3) | < 100 ps | > 0.5 | 1.5 m output fiber with stainless steel tubing Divergent output 0.15 NA | M² < 1.1 TEM00 | |
1 this module is a class 3b laser product
2 this module is a class 4 laser product
3 tunable pulse duration from 0.15 to 0.5 ns can be achieved by using our Programmable Pulse Generator (PPG 512)
4 any other wavelength between 765 and 780 nm can be provided upon request (may result in longer delivery times)
5 any other wavelength between 1530 and 1560 nm can be provided upon request (may result in longer delivery times)
6 the max average power is not necessarily reached at max pulse repetition rate. Typically for the -HP types, the max avg power is reached between 10 and 40 MHz
7 coherence length >85% of optical pulse width (FWHM) typical: 90-95%, in comparision to VisIR-1550-HP typically has coherence length of about 30-50% of optical pulse width (FWHM).
All measurements shown may be subject to a 10% callibration error.
Each VisIR module undergoes an extensive burn-in test to ensure long-term stability and is shipped with a comprehensive set of test data. This test data is kept in our database, which already holds records of more than 15 years.
All Information given here is reliable to our best knowledge. However, no responsibility is assumed for possible inaccuracies or omissions. Specifications and external appearances are subject to change without notice.
The VisIR-765-HP “STED” has been mainly designed to be used as a depletion laser in Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy (STED), but it can be used for various other applications, such as:
