Light Conversion ORPHEUS User manual

Last Rev. AV20180329
ORPHEUS
Collinear optical parametric amplifier of white light continuum
User’s Manual
UAB MGF Šviesos Konversija
Address: Keramikų 2B, LT-10233 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
www.lightcon.com

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PREFACE
This manual contains user information for the non-collinear optical parametric amplifier ORPHEUS.
Please read this manual first before attempting to connect and/or operate ORPHEUS. Special
attention should be paid to the “Safety precautions” chapter, which describes the safety measures that
should be taken while using the device. Always use the instrument only for its intended purpose and as
described in the manual. Failing to do so may void the instruments warranty and compromise user’s safety.
This manual is intended to give the user thorough description of the operation of ORPHEUS, guidance
on daily usage of the device and troubleshooting advice in case of problems. The manual assumes that the
ORPHEUS has been installed by a qualified service engineer. The user is strongly advised not to attempt to
perform a new installation or re-installation of ORPHEUS by following this manual.
Information in this manual is believed to be accurate and reliable. All information in this document is
subject to change without notice. In no event will Light Conversion be liable for any direct or indirect
damages resulting from any defects in this documentation. Always consult Light Conversion Support Team
or your service engineer, if you have doubts about any instructions written in the manual before acting.
Thank you for using Light Conversion products.
The latest WinTOPAS software version
Download the latest WinTOPAS software version from Light Conversion website www.lightcon.com:
Go to “Support” → “OPA Software Update” for the download link. No login required.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE......................................................................................................................................................3
TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................5
List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................7
List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................7
SAFETY SIGNAL WORDS AND SIGNS...........................................................................................................8
1. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS........................................................................................................................9
1.1 Optical Safety .........................................................................................................................9
1.2 Electrical Safety ....................................................................................................................10
1.3 Warning and Information Labels..........................................................................................10
2. ELECTRICAL AND PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS ...................................................................................12
2.1 Dimensions...........................................................................................................................12
2.2 Description of Input and Output Ports.................................................................................13
3. PUMP REQUIREMENTS.....................................................................................................................14
4. POSITIONING AND CONNECTING ORPHEUS ....................................................................................15
4.1 System Layout on Optical Table ...........................................................................................15
4.2 Fixing ORPHEUS on the Optical Table ..................................................................................15
4.3 Beam Routing Units..............................................................................................................17
4.4 Connecting ORPHEUS...........................................................................................................17
4.5 Input Beam Shutter ..............................................................................................................19
4.6 Interlock ...............................................................................................................................20
5. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION ..........................................................................................................21
5.1 Overview ..............................................................................................................................21
5.2 Pump Beam Delivery and Splitting.......................................................................................23
5.3 White Light Continuum Generator.......................................................................................23
5.4 Generation of the Second Harmonic of Pump .....................................................................23
5.5 First Amplification Stage ......................................................................................................24
5.5.1 The First Pass....................................................................................................................24
5.5.2 The Second Pass ...............................................................................................................25
5.6 Second Amplification Stage..................................................................................................26
5.7 Output polarization ..............................................................................................................27
5.8 Wavelength Separators........................................................................................................27
5.9 Computer Controllable Motorized Stages............................................................................28
5.10 Computer Control of ORPHEUS............................................................................................29
6. DAILY OPERATION ............................................................................................................................30
6.1 Setting the Wavelength........................................................................................................30
6.2 Optimizing the Output .........................................................................................................30
7. OPTIMIZATION OF ORPHEUS PERFORMANCE .................................................................................31
7.1 Checking Pump Laser Parameters........................................................................................31
7.2 Resetting Motor Positions....................................................................................................32
7.3 Input Beam Alignment .........................................................................................................32
7.4 Damage of Sapphire Substrate in White Light Generation Path..........................................33
7.5 Adjusting the Pump Intensity for White Light Generation ..................................................34
7.6 Adjusting the Pump Intensity for the First Amplification Stage...........................................35
7.7 Applying Offsets for the Calibration Curve ..........................................................................35
8. MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................................................37
8.1 General Maintenance...........................................................................................................37
8.2 Handling of Nonlinear Crystals.............................................................................................37
9. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE..............................................................................................................38
9.1 White Light Generation Does Not Occur/Is Instable............................................................38
9.2 Low Parametric Output or No Output at All ........................................................................38

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9.3 Low Second Harmonic Generation Efficiency...................................................................... 38
10. DISPOSAL...................................................................................................................................... 39
10.1 Dismantling the System ....................................................................................................... 39
10.2 Disposal................................................................................................................................ 39

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List of Figures
Figure 1. Location of the labels on the ORPHEUS body ...................................................................................10
Figure 2. ORPHEUS housing dimensions and positions of input and output ports (mm)................................12
Figure 3. Location of input and output ports on the ORPHEUS body..............................................................13
Figure 4. Recommended layout of ORPHEUS with an external Signal pulse compressor and pump laser .....15
Figure 5. Location of the three balls on which the device rests ......................................................................16
Figure 6. Positioning the feet of ORPHEUS on the optical table (SI system) ...................................................16
Figure 7. Positioning the feet of ORPHEUS on the optical table (Imperial system).........................................16
Figure 8. Location of the adjustment screws on the beam routing unit..........................................................17
Figure 9. Connectors of ORPHEUS....................................................................................................................18
Figure 10. The main USB control board of ORPHEUS ......................................................................................18
Figure 11. ORPHEUS extension plates (A or B) and shutter connector (C) ......................................................18
Figure 12. Shutter external view from input side and principle of operation .................................................19
Figure 13. Interlock defeat procedure .............................................................................................................20
Figure 14. Layout of the ORPHEUS subunits ....................................................................................................21
Figure 15. Optical layout of ORPHEUS .............................................................................................................22
Figure 16. View of the first amplification stage from above............................................................................24
Figure 17. View of the first amplification stage from the side.........................................................................24
Figure 18. A closer look at the amplified seed beam exiting the first amplification stage after the second
pass. Yellow is the amplified beam, White –WLC, Green –pump ..................................................................25
Figure 19. Location of the manual Delay 3 adjustment protective screw .......................................................26
Figure 20. Wavelength separator (WS) with and without metal cover ...........................................................27
Figure 21. Location and names of the motorized stages inside ORPHEUS......................................................28
Figure 22. Apertures inside ORPHEUS and placement of beam alignment targets during input beam
alignment. ........................................................................................................................................................33
Figure 23. Illustration showing a key inserted into the axial adjustment hole in the WLG adapter. ..............34
Figure 24. No white light generation (a) and very low intensity of white light (b) are indications that there is
too little energy in the pulse, or the beam is focused improperly onto the crystal ........................................34
Figure 25. Low (a), medium (b) and high (b) intensity of white light generated in sapphire substrate by 1030
nm radiation.....................................................................................................................................................35
List of Tables
Table 1. Safety signal words and safety signs used in this manual....................................................................8
Table 2. Location and description of ORPHEUS labels .....................................................................................11
Table 3. Electrical and utility requirements .....................................................................................................12
Table 4. Physical specifications ........................................................................................................................12
Table 5. Description of ORPHEUS input/output ports .....................................................................................13
Table 6. ORPHEUS output polarizations...........................................................................................................27
Table 7. List of wavelength separators ............................................................................................................28
Table 8. Names and descriptions of the motorized stages inside ORPHEUS...................................................28

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SAFETY SIGNAL WORDS AND SIGNS
The following safety signal words and safety signs are used throughout this manual:
Table 1. Safety signal words and safety signs used in this manual
Safety sign
Signal word
Description
DANGER
Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in
death or serious injury.
WARNING
Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
CAUTION
Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in
minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE
Indicates information considered important, but not hazard-related
(e.g. relating to property damage).
Indicates danger of electrical hazard to personal safety.
Indicates danger of exposure to hazardous laser radiation.

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1. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
This section should be carefully reviewed prior to operating the ORPHEUS optical parametric
amplifier (OPA). Safety precautions contained herein and throughout the manual must be carefully
followed to ensure that all personnel who operate the laser and the OPA are protected from accidental
exposure to laser radiation and high voltage.
WARNING
ORPHEUS, when coupled with an appropriate pump laser,
comprises a Class 4 laser product. Avoid eye or skin exposure
to direct or scattered radiation. It may cause skin injuries,
eye damage with possible blindness, and could also
constitute a fire hazard.
ORPHEUS, when coupled with an appropriate pump laser, comprises a Class 4 laser product that
poses safety hazards if not used properly. Produced direct or scattered radiation can cause permanent eye
damage and possible blindness, skin injuries. Beams can be powerful enough to burn skin, clothes, or ignite
fire and can also damage light sensitive optical equipment such as video cameras, photodiodes, etc. It is
imperative that users learn all safety information, which is provided in the pump laser’s manuals.
1.1 Optical Safety
Maximum accessible radiation level from the ORPHEUS. The used and emitted power/pulse energy
by ORPHEUS may vary upon the type and model of pump laser used. The average input power may be
20 W, with pulse duration ranging from 100 to 300 fs. Emitted radiation can be over 20 W, 2 mJ and 10-
300 fs pulse width. The wavelengths emitted by/present in ORPHEUS are: 1030 nm, 515 nm, 620-3000 nm.
Additional frequency mixers extend the tunable range to 210 nm to 20 µm. Be very careful when aligning
and working with ORPHEUS.
WARNING
Avoid viewing the beam and specular reflections. Always
wear protective eyewear when aligning and operating the
ORPHEUS. Ensure your protective glasses cover all
wavelengths emitted by the laser system.
User is advised to follow the precautions below:
1. Always wear protective eyewear. Choose protective eyewear appropriate to wavelength and
intensity of the radiation, conditions of use, and visual function required. Remember that the
ORPHEUS output wavelength can be automatically and continuously tuned in broad wavelength
range.
2. Never look directly into the laser beam or scattered laser light from any reflective surface.
3. Avoid wearing watches, jewelry and other objects that may reflect or scatter the laser beam.
4. Set up the laser system so that laser beam paths are located well below eye level. Keep the
beams enclosed where possible.
5. Use energy absorbing targets and shields for beam blocking and preventing unnecessary
reflections or scatter.
6. Avoid blocking the laser beam or its reflection with any part of your body.

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7. Limit access to the laser system to qualified personnel only, who have received appropriate
safety laser training and are aware of dangers involved.
8. Use the laser system in a closed room. Laser light remains collimated over long distances and
therefore presents a potential hazard if not confined.
9. Do not work with ORPHEUS cover opened unless necessary. Intense light beams, their specular
and scattered reflections can be emitted from various parts of ORPHEUS when the cover is
opened.
10. Always keep the ORPHEUS powered for the safety beam shutter to operate correctly.
11. Post warning signs near the laser operation area.
1.2 Electrical Safety
1. Disconnect the power supply when working on any electrical equipment when it is not
necessary for the equipment to be operating.
2. Do not connect or disconnect any cables with the power supply connected to the mains
electricity.
3. Never work on electrical equipment unless there is another person nearby who is familiar with
the operation and hazards of the equipment, and who is competent to administer first aid.
4. The equipment must only be connected to a mains electricity with protective earth to avoid risk
of electrical shock.
WARNING
To avoid the risk of electrical shock, this equipment must
only be connected only to a mains electricity with protective
earth.
1.3 Warning and Information Labels
Description of ORPHEUS labels is presented in Figure 1 and Table 2.
Figure 1. Location of the labels on the ORPHEUS body