G H Electro-Optics EQ Photonics Laser + Optoelektronik User Guide

G H Electro-Optics EQ Photonics Laser + Optoelektronik User Guide

G&H: A PHOTONICS SPECIALIST

G&H solves complex challenges for our customers by developing innovative photonics solutions that enhance performance, reliability, and efficiency. We are an award-winning name in the photonics industry with global reach and an established heritage dating back 75 years.
Aerospace & Defens

Industrial & Telecom
Emerging applications increasingly employ photonics as the enabler. Our customers require specialized, reliable and highperformance solutions. G&H pushes the boundaries in these key areas and provides differentiating product solutions. We maintain close and long-lasting relationships with our customers

G&H is a photonics technology business headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK with operations in the USA and Europe.

A BETTER WORLD WITH PHOTONICS.

BROAD GLOBAL EXPERTISE

Life Sciences

Manufacturing Locations
AO: Acousto-optics
EO: Electro-optics
FO : Fiber optics
PO+S : Precision optics and systems
MD: Medical devices
HQ: Headquarters
OSIH: Optical Systems Innovation Hub
CM: Contract manufacturing Sales offices.
Sales offices

Ilminster, UK
49,679 ft² 4,615m²

Fremont, USA
40,000 ft² 3,716 m²

Keene, USA
12,800 ft² 1,189 m²

Cleveland, USA
80,000 ft² 7,432 m²

Rochester, USA
43,226 ft² 4,015 m²

Moorpark, USA
50,000 ft² 4,645 m²

Plymouth, UK
22,000 ft² 2,043 m

Torquay, UK
41,000 ft² 3,850 m²

St. Asaph, UK
9,149 ft² 850 m²

Ashford, UK
30,000 ft² 2,787 m

G&H employs over 1,000 skilled employees across 10 manufacturing and design facilities. We also have 3 sales offices and a contract manufacturing partner in Thailand.

MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

G &H ELECTRO-OPTICS

Established in 1973, G&H’s Cleveland facility is dedicated to electro-optic device manufacturing and crystal growth. We offer an extensive range of electro-optic solutions covering applications spanning the spectrum from the ultraviolet to the infrared. With 50 years of expertise in device design and internal crystal growth, we possess the unique qualifications to meet our customers’ Pockels cell requirements effectively.

CONTACT US

Ilminster, UK
Dowlish Ford
Ilminster, UK
TA19 0PF
+44 1460 256400
Cleveland, US
676 Alpha Drive
Highland Heights, OH
44143 +1 216 486 6100
Electro-optics
G &H Germany
Germanenstraße 3
Kaufering, Germany
86916 +49 8191 9797372
Sales office
G &H France
4 rue René Razel
Saclay, France
91400
+33 1 69 20 34 32
Sales office
G &H Japan
Level 4, 3-2-3 Sakae
Nagoya, Japan
460-0008
+81 90 5615 2610
Sales office

POCKELS CELLS

Reliable polarization control for high power and high repetition rates Pockels cells are used in a variety of laser modulation applications benefitting from rapid/dynamic polarization control, Q-switching, light intensity control, intensity modulation,
dynamic waveplates, dynamic coupling of light in and out of optical systems and light switching.
Leveraging proprietary crystal growth and fabrication techniques, along with extensive expertise in electro-optic device design, we produce superior longitudinal and transverse electrode configuration Pockels cells in Lithium Niobate (LiNbO₃), β-barium borate (BBO), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and potassium dideuterium phosphate (KD*P). The selection of material and design for each application is influenced by factors such as wavelength, average and peak power, repetition rate, internal contrast ratio, voltage contrast ratio, beam size, and half-wave voltage, ensuring optimal performance.
Our Pockels cells exhibit market leading intrinsic and voltage contrast ratios, up to and exceeding 15000:1 for best performance and long, field- proven lifetime for lowest cost of ownership

KD*P Pockels cells: IMPACT, CENTAUR, QX & TX series*
We offer small and large aperture KDP Pockels cells, frequently used for applications under 10 kHz repetition rate. The popular, compact Impact series delivers reliable performance at high contrast ratios for OEM integration, while the Centaur series packages the same performance in a larger footprint as a drop-in replacement for the widely deployed QX series. Devices in the large aperture TX series are designed for use as optical isolators, protecting beam lines in ultrahigh power laser systems.
Our dedicated small and large crystal growth tanks produce KDP boules with deuterated levels of ordinary, 70%, 95%, and 99%. These boules are harvested and processed into Pockels cell crystals as well as frequency converters, including those used for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) at the National Ignition Facility (NIF).
BBO Pockels cells: CHIRON series**
We recommend BBO Pockels cells for applications over 10 W average power and for repetition rates above 10 kHz. Our low-loss designs employ transverse electric field geometry with dual crystals to minimize drive voltage. We also offer custom options include single crystal cells, 3- crystal cells requiring 50% less voltage, and cells with water-cooled apertures for high average power operation. Our high-performance model, the Chiron series, offers superlative performance with respect to extended exposure (24 hours) and at high repetition rate (>1 MHz) while maintaining a high contrast ratio.

CdTe Pockels cells: IRX series
Mid-infrared Q-switching applications use CdTe for wavelengths up to 12 µm and repetition rates up to 100 kHz. Our water-cooled designs feature packaging with reduced ambient light sensitivity to allow power handling greater than 10 W and are available with application specific anti-reflection (AR) coatings. Optional patented designs for environmental protection and high average power are available.
Lithium niobate Pockels cells: 7100 series
We grow and polish high quality LiNbO₃ (LN) crystals in-house for low wavefront distortion and apply electrodes for use in transverse mode (i.e., electric field perpendicular to the optic or zaxis) electro-optic devices. Our LN crystals offer high extinction ratio, very low transmission loss, low switching voltage and temperature stability throughout a wide temperature range. High-performance antireflective (AR) coatings are applied to each face, reducing loss to ≤0.2% per surface while withstanding high optical power (500 MW/cm2 upon request).
Proprietary temperature-stable versions: TS, XTS series
We have developed proprietary temperature-stable (TS and XTS) versions of our Q-switch products to allow operation over a wide range of temperatures while maintaining excellent contrast ratio. Typical LiNbO₃ Q-switches suffer from pyro-electric charge buildup at low temperatures, leading to premature lasing. G&H Engineers have solved this problem with a proprietary technique that increase the conductivity of our lithium niobate crystal faces. This dissipates unwanted charge preventing pyro-electric charge buildup. This unique technology enables critical applications in, for example, defense and aerospace.
Application focus
G&H’s Lithium Niobate Q-Switches are employed in rangefinders and target designators.

| Wavelength (nm)| Damage threshold| Size (mm)| Extinction ratio| Wavefront distortion| Product code
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
7100-2| 1064| 200 MW/cm²| 9x9x25| ≥20:1 @ 633nm| ≤λ/8 @ 633nm| 99-48205-01
7100-4| 1064| 300 MW/cm²| 7.4×7.4×21| ≥20:1 @ 633nm| ≤λ/8 @ 633nm| 99-48202-01
7100-11A| 1064| 300 MW/cm²| 9x9x25| ≥20:1 @ 633nm| ≤λ/8 @ 633nm| 97-00970-03
7100-4 TS| 1064| 300 MW/cm²| 7.2×7.4×21| ≥20:1 @ 633nm| ≤λ/8 @ 633nm| 99-48302-12
7100-01 XTS| 1064| 300 MW/cm²| 9x9x25| ≥20:1 @ 633nm| ≤λ/8 @ 633nm| 97-00970-13
7100-11| 1064| 500 MW/cm²| 9x9x25| ≥20:1 @ 633nm| ≤λ/8 @ 633nm| 97-00970-10

Application focus
G&H’s Pockels Cells find applications in amplifiers, CO2 lasers, laser fusion, materials processing, medical and aesthetic laser systems, metal annealing, micro machining, optical switching, petawatt lasers, and regenerative amplifiers

| Wavelength| Voltage contrast ratio| Aperture (mm)| Optical material| Compatible G&H drivers| Product code
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Impact series| 300-1300nm| >2000:1 @1064nm| 8-13| KDP| Q- / R-Drive™| IMP xxx
Centaur series| 300-1300nm| >2000:1 @1064nm| 8-25| KDP| Q- / R-Drive™| CQX xxx
QX series| 300-1300nm| Varies| 9.25-19.5| KDP| Q- / R-Drive™| QX xxx
TX series| 300-1300nm| Varies| 19.5-99| KDP| HVR-Drive/Sys| TX xxx
Chiron series| 300-1600nm| >500:1 @1064nm| 3.25-7| BBO| R-Drive™| TA xxx
IRX series| 3-12µm| >500:1 @10.6µm| 3-7, 4×10| CdTe| HVR-Drive/Sys| IRX xxx

POCKELS CELL DRIVERS

Robust, compact drivers for light switching applications
Complementing our comprehensive range of Pockels cells, the G&H series of Pockels cell drivers are designed to enhance performance and durability. Utilizing high-quality components, these drivers maximize lifetime, safety, and reliability, catering to the requirements of commercial, military, and scientific laser systems. Our product offerings include the Q-DRIVE™ series drivers for Q-switching applications, as well as the R-DRIVE™ series drivers designed for pulse picking and regenerative amplifiers.
Q-Drive™ for q-switched lasers
The Q-Drive™ series offers a fast rise-time for KD*P Pockels cells used in Q-switched lasers with kilohertz repetition rates. Designed for high noise immunity and optimum signal integrity, it can be placed close to the Pockels cell to minimize the output pulse rise time. A remote control connector allows convenient single-point access to all driver functions, remote high voltage control, and signal monitoring.
The lab (benchtop) configuration has front-panel controls for high voltage set point and power while the OEM model offers similar functionality in a fully contained package on a compact circuit board. Both Q-Drive™ configurations provide a fast rise time of 4-7 ns.

Q-Drive™ double pulse (single or dual trigger)
The Q-Drive™ double pulse driver, available as either a single or dual input trigger version, produces a double-pulse waveform that holds off lasing during flash lamp operation and pulses the Pockels cell at the peak (when laser output is at maximum) then turns the Pockels cell off again to prevent additional laser pulses from being emitted. This results in less strain on the Pockels cell because the voltage is not always on, reduces parasitic emissions from the cavity (extraneous laser emission) and permits synchronization of the Pockels cell to the flash lamp to extract more energy in some cases.
R-Drive™ for regenerative amplifiers
The compact, cost-effective R-Drive™ series is designed specifically for use with BBO Pockels cells at quarter-wave voltage but may also be used with other Pockels cells at quarter-wave or half-wave voltage. Offering both a fast rise and fall time, it allows laser pulses to be injected into or coupled out of an amplifier cavity quickly. Ideal for pulse selection and ultrafast laser regenerative amplifier designs up to 200 kHz, it can be incorporated into new systems or retrofitted as an upgrade.

LVR-Drive
The LVR-Drive is a compact OEM Pockels cell driver for pulse selection and regenerative amplifiers, offering repetition rates up to 200 kHz and voltage up to2.5 kV. It can also be furnished in a rack-mounted front-panel controlled system.
MVR-Drive
The MVR-Drive, the newest member of the R-Drive™ series, is designed to switch Pockels cells used for pulse management in high repetition rate ultrafast laser regenerative amplifiers. The MVR-Drive can drive Pockels cells at quarter-wave or half-wave voltages up to 4.8 kV and up to 1 MHz. The driver produces a top-hat waveform with fast rising and falling edges and the 1 MHz pulse rate can take advantage of the full capability of the Chiron series BBO Pockels cells.
HVR-Drive
The HVR-Drive is an extension of the R-Drive™ product family, with voltage capability up to 7.5 kV at repetition rates of up to 200 kHz. The fast rising and falling edges of its top-hat waveform makes the HVR appropriate for use with BBO Pockels cells operating at quarter-wave voltage in ultrafast regenerative amplifiers, as well as with other Pockels cells at half-wave voltage
Application focus
G&H’s Pockels Cells find applications in amplifiers, CO2 lasers, laser fusion, materials
processing, medical and aesthetic laser systems, metal annealing, micro- machining, optical
switching, petawatt lasers, and regenerative amplifiers.

Q-DRIVE™| Compatible Pockels cells| Rise / fall time (ns)| Voltage output (kV)| Repetition rate| Applications| Product code
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Benchtop| IMP, CQX, QX| 4-7| 1.5-4.5| 1-4.5 kHz| Lab q- switching| QD-Lab
OEM| IMP, CQX, QX| 4-7| 1.55-4.5| 1-4.5 kHz| OEM q-switching| QD-OEM
Double pulse| IMP, CQX, QX| <10 (fall)| 1.2-4.0| 0-50 Hz| Flash-lamp double- pulse , medical Q- switching| QDP
R-DRIVE™| Compatible Pockels cells| Rise / fall time (ns)| Voltage output (kV)| Repetition rate| Applications| Product code
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
LVR-Drive OEM| TA| 4-7| 0-2.5| 0-200 kHz| OEMregenerative amplifiers, pulse selection| LVR-OEM
LVR-System| TA| 4-7| 0-2.5| 0-200 kHz| Lab / prototyping laser system| LVR-S
MVR-Drive| TA, IMP, CQX, QX, TX, IRX| 10-15| 0-3.2| 0-1 MHz0-500 kHz| OEMregenerative amplifier| MVR-D
MVR-Drive| TA, IMP, CQX, QX, TX, IRX| 10-15| 0-7.5| 0-200 kHz| OEMregenerative amplifier| HVR-D
MVR-Drive| TA, IMP, CQX, QX, TX, IRX| 10-15| 0-7.5| 0-200 kHz| Lab / prototyping laser system| HVR-S

For more information, visit www.gandh.com/products /electro-optics/pockels-cell-drivers |

References

• Optics and Photonics | G&H
• Acousto-Optic Deflectors | Spatial Control Of Optical Beams
• Pockels Cells Drivers | View The Range
• Pockels Cells | Browse The Range

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