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Prima

Prima

3-Color Stand-Alone Picosecond Laser

Compact 3-color picosecond laser delivering flexible ns to ms excitation with cost-effective multicolor performance and straightforward operation.
Prima 3-color picosecond laser from PicoQuant with trigger, gate, and sync interfaces for time-resolved spectroscopy and microscopy.
Table of contents

Key Benefits

Simple multi-wavelength setup
Lower system complexity
Cost-effective excitation source
Improved data quality
Easy integration & control
Reliable long-term stability

Available Configurations

Wavelengths

Wavelength (±10) [nm]
Type
Pulse (FWHM) [ps]
Max. rep. rate [MHz]
Avg. power [mW]
CW power [mW]
375
Prima 3 Color
< 120
200
3.5
20
405
Prima 3 Color
< 80
200
4
50
450
Prima 3 Color
< 130
200
3.5
50
485
Prima 3 Color
< 130
200
3.5
50
515
Prima 3 Color
< 170
200
4
50
640
Prima 3 Color
< 100
200
4.5
50
Detail explanations and measurements conditions for the listed specifications are provided in the datasheet.

Specifications

Available wavelength* 375, 405, 450, 485, 515, 640 nm
Polarizationlinear, vertical
Polarization Extinction Ratio (PER)Typ. > 30:1 (> 15 dB)
Power stability (12 hours) (ΔT (ambient) < 0.5 K) < 3 % RMS
Average beam dimension** 1.0 ± 0.30 mm
Average beam circularity > 0.3
Transversale mode M*< 1.5
Multi-Mode fiber coupling efficiency> 70 %
RangeUser selectable 1 kHz to 200 MHz 1000 increments of 1 kHz from 1 to 999 kHz 200 increments of 1 MHz from 1 to 200 MHz
RangeSingle shot to 200 MHz
Trigger level-1V ... +1V into 50 Ohm
Trigger voltage-3V to +5V into 50 Ohm
Jitter< 12 ps (RMS)
ConnectorSMA
Amplitude< - 800 mV into 50 Ohm (NIM)
ConnectorSMA
Rise / Fall Time< 3 ns
ON Time (or inverted: OFF Time)Freely adjustable from < 10 ns to 1 ms
OFF Time (or inverted: ON Time)Freely adjustable factor from 1 to 255 of ON (or OFF) Time
Impedance10 kOhms with pull-up 50 Ohms with pull-down
ConnectorSMA
Dimensions (W X H X L)75 x 83 x 140 mm
Weight1 kg
Temperature range10 – 35 °C
Humidity range< 80 % (non condensing)
Maximum power consumption< 30 W
PC InterfaceUSB 2.0
ConnectorUSB-C
Operating systemWindows 10 and 11

Download the datasheet here.

* Typical value in Pulsed mode. A slight shift to longer wavelengths in CW mode.
** Measured at 1 m distance from laser aperture

Laser Safety Warning Label (Class 3B)
Laser Safety Warning Label (Class 3B)

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. Trademarks or corporate names are used for explanation and identification, to the owner’s benefit and without intent to infringe.

Three Colors. One Pulse. Endless Possibilities.

Multicolor Excitation Made Simple

Gain-Switched Design for Fast and Slow Dynamics

Prima is a compact 3-color gain-switched picosecond laser designed for researchers who need multiple excitation wavelengths with cost-effective performance and without the complexity of larger laser platforms. It offers pulsed, CW, and fast CW switching in one device, enabling flexible excitation across nanosecond to millisecond time scales for both fast and slow dynamics. Based on gain-switching technology, Prima generates clean, reproducible picosecond pulses with excellent timing precision in a compact and robust design. Its efficient excitation also benefits materials with low luminescence quantum yield. With stable alignment, minimal maintenance, and fully digital control, Prima brings reliable multicolor performance into even the smallest laboratories.

Three selectable wavelengths delivered by a compact gain-switched picosecond laser for flexible multicolor excitation.

Precision, Stability, and Control

  • Internal repetition rates from 1 kHz to 200 MHz with external triggering up to 200 MHz
  • Excellent timing performance with <12 ps jitter
  • High power stability below 3 % RMS over 12 hours
  • Optional fiber coupling with multi-mode fibers for all colors and single-mode fiber coupling for one selected wavelength (up to 35 % efficiency)
  • Fully computer controlled via USB-C and compatible with Windows 10 and 11
Comparison of steady-state and time-resolved luminescence measurements using burst and CW excitation, highlighting the precise timing control of the Prima picosecond laser for complex excitation schemes.

Flexible Control for Complex Excitation Schemes

Prima unlocks advanced excitation schemes without the need for complex multi-driver setups. Its flexible timing architecture supports burst sequences, pump–probe workflows, and other custom pulse patterns. Internal and external triggering up to 200 MHz ensures precise synchronization with detectors, scanners, or TCSPC electronics. Whether you are mapping fast photophysics, separating species in single-molecule assays, or probing long-lived states, Prima makes sophisticated excitation patterns easy to set up and reproducible in daily operation.

Short laser pulses are directed onto a scene and reflected by moving objects. Detected single photons are time-stamped with TCSPC electronics, enabling simultaneous extraction of distance and velocity via time-of-flight and Doppler shift. Data and illustration adapted from Kitichotkul et al., Optica (2025).

Advancing Doppler Single-Photon LiDAR with Prima

Can a pulsed lidar system measure both distance and velocity in real time using only single photons? Researchers at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) have shown that it can. In their proof-of-principle demonstration of Doppler Single-Photon Lidar (SPL), Joshua Rapp and his team relied on Prima to deliver clean, precise pulses at the 40 MHz rate used in their experiment. They selected Prima not only for its stability and wavelength flexibility, but also for its capability to support future SPL studies that explore much higher repetition rates up to 200 MHz.

Fiber Coupling Option

Prima can be equipped with a multi-mode fiber output that supports efficient and stable beam delivery. Typical coupling performance reaches above 70 %, depending on wavelength and configuration. Each unit is aligned before shipment to provide a reliable and well-defined signal at the fiber interface.

Advanced Laser Operation Modes

Pulsed, Burst, and CW Modes

In materials science, choosing the right laser operation mode is key to unlocking accurate and insightful experimental results. Relevant modes: pulsed, burst, CW, fast switched CW.
Discover operation modes
Discover How Pulsed, Burst, and CW Modes Advance Your Research Goals
Trusted by Researchers Worldwide

What Researchers Say

We can perform about 90% of our spectroscopy experiments with the three excitation wavelengths provided by Prima. Prima can greatly simplify our optical set-up thanks to its small size and fiber output, which facilitates its use.
Dr. Alexandre Fürstenberg
Group leader and senior lecturer (MER), University of Geneva
Image of Dr. Alexandre Fürstenberg
We originally chose the Prima laser because it had one of the highest repetition rates for pulsed lasers that we could find. Having more pulses per second allows us to detect more photons, which improves our estimates. Another reason we bought the Prima is because of the three laser wavelengths available, which allows us to choose the wavelength that best suits the problem we are working on.
Dr. Joshua Rapp
Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories
Scientific Insights & Resources

Latest Blog Articles

Experimental Doppler single-photon lidar setup using a Prima pulsed laser, SPAD detector, and TCSPC timing electronics with resulting 3D range and velocity reconstruction.
May 11, 2025

Turning Vision into Results with Doppler Single-Photon Lidar

PicoQuant pulsed laser and LED sources
February 5, 2026

Advanced Laser Operation Modes

Experimental Doppler single-photon lidar setup using a Prima pulsed laser, SPAD detector, and TCSPC timing electronics with resulting 3D range and velocity reconstruction.
May 11, 2025

Turning Vision into Results with Doppler Single-Photon Lidar

PicoQuant pulsed laser and LED sources
February 5, 2026

Advanced Laser Operation Modes

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In-Depth Scientific Resources

Scientific Resources

Access in-depth application notes and scientific posters with detailed methods, measurement data, and real-world use cases.

Poster: Photoluminescence Studies

TRPL studies from ps to ms reveal multicolor excitation dynamics and long-lived luminescence processes in advanced materials

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Technical Documentation and Data

Technical Downloads

Datasheet Prima

Provides detailed specifications of this compact gain-switched picosecond laser offering up to three selectable wavelengths for versatile applications

Dimension Sheet Prima

Showing mechanical layout, adjustable mounting positions, connector interfaces, and overall device dimensions

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