SOLEA is a stand alone, computer controlled, supercontinuum laser source with an unmatched flexibility in repetition rates. It is based on a unique combination of gain-switched, fiber-amplified laser diodes with exclusive, patent pending fiber pumping control and well established, state-of-the-art photonic-crystal fiber for supercontinuum generation.

Variable repetition rates up to 40 MHz

A special feature of the SOLEA is the capability to be operated at various, freely adjustable repetition rates between 1 MHz and 40 MHz. The repetition rates can be either selected using an internal oscillator, which provides six fixed, user-selectable repetition rates between 1.25 MHz and 40 MHz. Alternatively, the SOLEA can even be externally triggered at any repetition rate between 1 MHz and 40 MHz or in pulse burst patterns. This unique feature permits to synchronize the SOLEA with other lasers for e.g. multicolor excitation schemes. The extinction between each pulse is complete, and classical, contrast limited pulse pickers are not needed.

Integrated tunable bandpass filter

The SOLEA is delivered with an integrated dedicated tunable bandpass filter with a high side mode suppression ratio of greater than OD 5 (50 dB), which makes it even suitable for single molecule detection.The filter has a transmission of up to 30% and permits to set the central emission wavelength as well as the width of the spectal emission to any value between 3 nm and 15 nm.

480 nm to 700 nm, <150 ps pulse width

The SOLEA emits from a polarisation maintaining single mode fibre with a usable spectral range between 480 nm and 700 nm. The average spectral density without the bandpass filter is greater than 1mW/nm. After the tunable bandpass filter, the pulse width at any wavelength is <150 ps (FWHM). Each pulse is accompanied by a corresponding timing optimized synchronization signal, which can be used to trigger other components such as TCSPC electronics.