NKT Photonics SUPERK SELECT User manual

800-614-01
SuperK
SELECT
Product Guide Revision 1.3 10-2023

PRODUCT GUIDE
This guide includes information for the following NKT Photonics products:
SuperK SELECT
Multi Channel Tunable Filter
Item number:
A203-XXX-XXX
SuperK External RF Driver
RF Signal Generator
Item number:
A901-100-000
SuperK COMMAND
Fast Wavelength Switching Signaling Interface
Item number:
A203-000-001
CAUTION: Do not open the device chassis. All chassis are equipped with war-
ranty labels (see Figure 40) on their covers. The warranty is void if a device is
opened.
Manufactured by:
NKT Photonics A/S
Blokken 84, Birkerød-3460 Denmark
The information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
All company and product names mentioned within are either trademarks or registered trademarks of
NKT Photonics.
Specifications are listed as metric units. Imperial units listed are conversions.
Copyright 2023 NKT Photonics A/S. All rights reserved.
Author: W-10456

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Guide Overview
This product guide is intended to provide functional, operational and
installation information for the SuperK SELECT. The guide includes chapters
that cover SELECT description, installation, operation and parameter
configuration.
WARNING: Do not operate a laser with the SELECT before first reading and un-
derstanding all warnings, cautions and handling information stated within the
document:
SuperK SELECT Safety, Handling and Regulatory Information
The paper copy of this guide is included with your accessory; it can also be
downloaded from:
https://www.nktphotonics.com/product-manuals-and-documentation/
Terminology The guide may refer to the SuperK SELECT as the SELECT, device or
accessory.
Target Audience This guide is for technical personnel involved in the selection, planning and
deployment of lasers and photonic equipment in laboratory and industrial
settings. The guide assumes a reasonable knowledge level of lasers, photonic
principles and electrical interface connectivity.
Chapters Inside This guide includes the following chapters:
• Chapter I “Description” — Describes the accessory including its general
operational principles, management and interfaces.
• Chapter 2 “Installation” — Includes information and procedures on how to
correctly install the accessory chassis.
• Chapter 3 “Output Power Considerations” — This chapter discusses beam
optimization and the strategies involved.
• Chapter 4 “Using CONTROL” — This chapter provides the details on how to
manage the accessory using NKT Photonics CONTROL software interface.
• Specifications — The guide includes appendices that cover specifications,
support contact details, how to install the management software, and a
special appendix on configuring and using a SuperK COMMAND module.
Added information
and Safety Notices
Lasers with their accessories are highly dangerous devices that can cause
serious injury and property damage. This guide use the following symbols to
either highlight important safety information or provide further information in
relation to a specific topic.

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NOTE: Highlights additional information related to the associated topic and/or
provides links or the name of the NKTP guides describing the additional infor-
mation.
CAUTION: Alerts you to a potential hazard that could cause loss of data, or dam-
age the system or equipment.
WARNING: The laser safety warning alerts you to potential serious injury that
may be caused when using a laser with the accessory.
Revision This section records the document revision details.
Release date Version and changes
2020-October 1.0 revised format updated from earlier manuals and
documents.
2021-January 1.1 Updated support contact details in appendix B.
2021-April 1.0 Rolled back to revision 1.0 due to internal system
reasons.
2021 October 1.1 Updated λ bands for AOTF crystals in nIR2 column of
Table 1 on page 16.
2022 February 1.2 Updates include minor grammar corrections and
improvements in language clarity. Some figures have
also been modified for clarity.
•Updated description of “Auxiliary input” on page 20.
•Updated “Installing CONTROL” on page 63 with
Windows 10 screenshots.
2023 October 1.3 Updatedthe style of the document.

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CONTENTS
Guide Overview ............................................................................................................... 3
Terminology ..................................................................................................................... 3
TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... 9
FIGURES ................................................................................................................................... 11
PROCEDURES .......................................................................................................................... 13
1 Description..................................................................................................................... 15
AOTF technology ........................................................................................................... 15
AOTF crystal types ......................................................................................................... 16
RF driver ........................................................................................................................ 17
Features ............................................................................................................................... 18
Output ............................................................................................................................ 18
Interlock .......................................................................................................................... 18
Shutters .......................................................................................................................... 18
Power lock (optional) ...................................................................................................... 18
Interfaces ............................................................................................................................. 19
Top panel ....................................................................................................................... 19
Optical apertures ............................................................................................................ 21
Monitor ports ..................................................................................................................22
Electrical Interfaces ........................................................................................................ 23
External RF driver ................................................................................................................ 24
ERD - rear panel ............................................................................................................ 25
SuperK SELECT Control...................................................................................................... 26
Software Description ...................................................................................................... 26
Status LEDs ......................................................................................................................... 27
Chassis labels ...................................................................................................................... 28
2 Installation ..................................................................................................................... 31
Installation process ........................................................................................................ 31
General .......................................................................................................................... 31
Optical Connections ............................................................................................................. 32

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Inserting the SuperK collimator ...................................................................................... 32
Optical output .................................................................................................................33
Electrical Connections ......................................................................................................... 33
Single ERD system ........................................................................................................ 33
Dual ERD system ........................................................................................................... 35
Adding additional accessories ........................................................................................ 37
3 Output Power Considerations ....................................................................................... 39
Output beam quality............................................................................................................. 39
Free space delivery ........................................................................................................ 39
Fiber Delivery .................................................................................................................39
Optimum RF power.............................................................................................................. 40
RF power ........................................................................................................................ 40
Fiber coupled ................................................................................................................. 40
Optimum RF power level ................................................................................................ 41
Remapping the Optimum RF level ................................................................................. 42
Beam walk-off ...................................................................................................................... 42
Reduction in output power ............................................................................................. 42
Realignment ................................................................................................................... 42
4 Using CONTROL .......................................................................................................... 43
CONTROL overview ............................................................................................................ 43
Device Selector.................................................................................................................... 44
Address selector ............................................................................................................ 44
Status Panel......................................................................................................................... 45
Status Indicators ............................................................................................................ 45
System Info ....................................................................................................................46
RF Power button ............................................................................................................ 46
Emission button .............................................................................................................. 47
Control settings .............................................................................................................. 47
Control panel........................................................................................................................ 49
Normal Operating mode ................................................................................................. 49
Fast wavelength switching mode ................................................................................... 53

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Wavelength sweep mode ............................................................................................... 54
A Specifications ................................................................................................................ 57
B Service and Support Information................................................................................... 61
Servicing .............................................................................................................................. 61
Opening the chassis ...................................................................................................... 61
WARRANTY VOID IF REMOVED label ......................................................................... 61
Support Contact Details ....................................................................................................... 61
Online Support Web-page .............................................................................................. 61
Shipping Address ........................................................................................................... 62
C CONTROL Software...................................................................................................... 63
Installing CONTROL ............................................................................................................ 63
D Using a SuperK COMMAND module............................................................................. 69
Description ........................................................................................................................... 69
Connect to a SuperK SELECT system .......................................................................... 70
External signal requirements .......................................................................................... 71
Signaling and CONTROL configuration ............................................................................... 71
2 or 4-channel FWS ....................................................................................................... 71
Four 8-channel profile switching .................................................................................... 72
16-channel FWS ............................................................................................................ 74
Modulating emission power ............................................................................................ 77

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TABLES
Table 1: AOTF crystal models – wavelength bands (nanometers) ............................................. 16
Table 2: SELECT Status LEDs ................................................................................................... 27
Table 3: Chassis labels............................................................................................................... 28
Table 4: Chassis labels............................................................................................................... 28
Table 5: Optical ....................................................................................................................... 57
Table 6: Interfaces ...................................................................................................................... 57
Table 7: Mechanical dimensions................................................................................................. 57
Table 8: Electrical specifications – External RF Drivers ............................................................. 57
Table 9: Operating and storage environment ............................................................................. 58
Table 10: Safety and regulatory compliances ............................................................................ 58
Table 11: COMMAND input specifications.................................................................................. 71
Table 12: 2 or 4 channel FWS truth table ................................................................................... 71
Table 13: 4 profile FWS truth table .............................................................................................72
Table 14: 16-channel FWS truth table ........................................................................................ 74

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FIGURES
Figure 1: SuperK SELECT with dual AOTF outputs – general view ........................................... 15
Figure 2: SuperK SELECT standard dual RF driver system view............................................... 17
Figure 3: Optical output shutters – VIR/NIR set open and NIR/IR set closed ............................ 18
Figure 4: Top panel..................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 5: Optical Interfaces......................................................................................................... 21
Figure 6: Optical Interfaces......................................................................................................... 22
Figure 7: Electrical Interfaces ad optical input ............................................................................ 23
Figure 8: External RF Driver unit – general view ........................................................................ 24
Figure 9: External RF Driver – rear panel ................................................................................... 25
Figure 10: SELECT Status LEDs................................................................................................ 27
Figure 11: Side panel manufacturing label ................................................................................. 28
Figure 12: Top panel labels ........................................................................................................ 29
Figure 13: Partially inserting the collimator ................................................................................. 32
Figure 14: Collimator alignment key and slot.............................................................................. 32
Figure 15: Collimator lock screw ................................................................................................ 33
Figure 16: Connecting a SELECT - single ERD ......................................................................... 34
Figure 17: Connecting single ERDs............................................................................................ 34
Figure 18: Bus defeater .............................................................................................................. 34
Figure 19: Setting External bus addresses - single ERD system ............................................... 35
Figure 20: Connecting a SELECT - dual ERD ............................................................................ 36
Figure 21: Connecting dual ERDs .............................................................................................. 36
Figure 22: Setting External bus addresses - dual ERD system .................................................. 37
Figure 23: Spectral output of a single AOTF channel ................................................................. 39
Figure 24: AOTF transmission spectrum for varying RF powers ................................................ 40
Figure 25: Optical power for a specific wavelength as a function of RF power .......................... 41
Figure 26: Wavelength versus optimum RF power level ............................................................ 41
Figure 27: CONTROL panel navigation ...................................................................................... 43
Figure 28: Device selector icon................................................................................................... 44
Figure 29: Device selector .......................................................................................................... 44
Figure 30: Device selector set to 0xE bus address..................................................................... 44
Figure 31: Status Panel .............................................................................................................. 45
Figure 32: CONTROL settings.................................................................................................... 47
Figure 33: Setup menu page ......................................................................................................47
Figure 34: CONTROL settings.................................................................................................... 49

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Figure 35: Channel controls - general operation......................................................................... 50
Figure 36: ‘Set button sliders ...................................................................................................... 51
Figure 37: Band views per output channel (crystal).................................................................... 51
Figure 38: VIS/NIR output with all channels ON......................................................................... 52
Figure 39: NIR/IR output with all channels ON ........................................................................... 52
Figure 40: Dragging channels in the band view.......................................................................... 53
Figure 41: Fast wavelength switching mode............................................................................... 54
Figure 42: Wavelength sweep .................................................................................................... 55
Figure 43: Mechanical dimensions – Select module................................................................... 58
Figure 44: Mechanical dimensions – External RF Driver............................................................ 59
Figure 45: Warranty seal............................................................................................................. 61
Figure 46: COMMAND electrical connectors .............................................................................. 69
Figure 47: Connecting a COMMAND module............................................................................. 70
Figure 48: Fast wavelength switching: 2 or 4 λsetup ................................................................. 72
Figure 49: Fast wavelength switching: 4 profile setup ................................................................ 74
Figure 50: Fast wavelength switching: 16 λsetup ...................................................................... 76
Figure 51: Fast wavelength switching: simulated modulated 4 λsetup ...................................... 77
white

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PROCEDURES
Procedure 1: Inserting a SuperK output collimator .................................................................... 32
Procedure 2: Electrical connections for a SELECT with a single ERD ...................................... 33
Procedure 3: Electrical connections for a SELECT with dual ERDs.......................................... 35
Procedure 4: Connecting additional accessories....................................................................... 37
Procedure 5: Remapping the optimum RF power level ............................................................. 42
Procedure 6: Installing CONTROL.............................................................................................. 63
Procedure 7: Setting up 2 or 4 channel fast wavelength switching............................................ 71
Procedure 8: Setting up four 8-channel profile switching........................................................... 73
Procedure 9: Setting up 16-channel fast wavelength switching................................................. 75

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1 Description
The SuperK SELECT is a plug & play filter accessory for the SuperK series of
lasers. It can tune and select multiple wavelengths from the emission spectrum
of a SuperK laser. The SELECT also includes a range of unique features which
makes it an accessible, flexible and accurate tuning accessory to obtain any
wavelength at a configured power level from the output spectrum of SuperK
series lasers.
AOTF technology The SELECT uses Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter technology (AOTF). Each AOTF
can tune to over one octave of optical frequency. Using a single AOTF, the
SELECT can tune simultaneously up to 8 wavelengths and using an optional
second AOTF crystal, the SELECT widens its spectrum emission to a maximum
of 16 tunable wavelengths. Note that the crystals are driven by a separate
External RF Driver that is connected to the SELECT.
Figure 1 SuperK SELECT with dual AOTF outputs – general view
The SuperK SELECT is versatile and supports the following features:
• Choice of wavelength splitting range
• Single or dual AOTF crystal
• Free space collimated or fiber coupled output beam delivery types
WARNING: The SuperK SELECT is for use with the SuperK laser series which are
comprised of Class 3B and 4 lasers. Only persons who are familiar with laser
safety regulations are allowed to operate any of these systems.
NOTE: This product has not been UL-approved; however, all integrated safety
components are UL-approved.

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AOTF crystal types The SELECT can be specified with a variety of AOTF crystals that filter
wavelengths from the SuperK emission spectrum from 400 to 2000 nm. Table 1
lists the crystal models available and the combinations which can be fitted in a
dual AOTF SELECT. When dual crystals are fitted to the SELECT, the crystal
wavelength bands are selected to either extend the bandwidth or select
entirely different bands. For dual combinations shown in Table 1, where the
bandwidth is extended, there is a gap due to the dichroic mirrors in the
SELECT. This is due to performance of the mirrors where their reflection and
transmission losses are at the maximum.
Table 1 AOTF crystal models – wavelength bands (nanometers)
AOTF 1
AOTF 2
Single crystal SELECT – λ band
VIS-nIR
500-900 nm
nIR
640-1100 nm
nIR2
800-1400 nm
IR
1100-2000 nm
UV-VIS
400-650 nm
400-650
690-900
400-650
690-1100
400-650
800-1400
400-650
1100-2000
VIS (1x)
430-700 nm
–
–
430-670
690-1100
430-700
800-1400
430-700
1100-2000
VIS (4x)
450-700 nm
–
–
450-670
690-1100
450-700
800-1400
450-700
1100-2000
VIS-nIR
500-900 nm
–
–
–
–
500-850
900-1400
500-900
1100-2000
nIR1
640-1100 nm
–
–
–
–
–
–
640-1100
1200-2000
nIR2
800-1400 nm
–
–
–
–
–
–
800-1100
1200-2000
2
Single crystal SELECT – λ band
Dual crystal SELECT– λ bands

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RF driver An NKT Photonics External RF Driver (ERD) unit is connected to the SELECT’s RF1
input. A single ERD generates the necessary RF signals to drive a single AOTF
crystal. The RF signals generated by the driver are configured to drive an AOTF
for up to 8 output wavelengths. For a SELECT equipped with dual AOTFs and a
single ERD, only one AOTF can be configured for operation at one time. To
operate both AOTFs simultaneously, an additional ERD is connected to the
SELECT’s RF2 input. The External RF Driver is described in “External RF driver”
on page 24.
Figure 2 shows a SELECT system equipped with dual AOTFs and dual ERDs. All
units communicate through the External bus system and each ERD transmits an
RF signal over coaxial cable to the SELECT. Each AOTF of the SELECT receives
an RF signal from one of the two ERDs.The RF signals act on the crystal AOTFs
tuning them to filter the configured wavelengths emitted from the optical outputs.
Figure 2 SuperK SELECT standard dual RF driver system view
Optical outputs
Externalbus
RFin1
Externalbus
RFout2
RFout 1
RFin 2
ACmains
Optical input(fromlaser)
Busdefeater
Monitorout
fromlaser
Busthr
.to
& busthr
.
RFdrivers
Externalbus
External RF
Driver 1
External RF
Driver 2

Features
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Features
Output Emission from the SuperK SELECT output ports uses free space beams. To
deliver either the NIR/IR or the VIR/NIR output beam, a Fiber Delivery System
(FDS) consisting of SuperK CONNECT and Fiber Delivery accessories can be
fitted to the SELECT.
Interlock The SuperK SELECT is designed to connect with the SuperK laser’s interlock
system. Emission is immediately disabled when the interlock circuit is broken
such as for example, an interconnected safety door switch. Refer to “Electrical
Connections” on page 33.
Shutters As a safety feature, each optical output of the SuperK SELECT is equipped with a
mechanical shutter. When a shutter is closed, it blocks all optical emission. The
shutters are manually operated by turning the shutter knob between the Open and
Closed positions as shown in
Figure 3 .
Figure 3 Optical output shutters – VIR/NIR set open and NIR/IR set closed
CAUTION: When the laser outputs are not in use, NKTP recommends to CLOSE
the shutters.
NOTE: You can view the position of the shutters in the status panel of CONTROL,
see “Status Indicators” on page 45.
Power lock (optional) The Power Lock option enables you to lock and stabilize the emission power
level of the SuperK SELECT using a built-in photodetector. The detector output
is connected to the External Feedback BNC connector of the SuperK laser (if
equipped).
The long-term (multiple hours) stability of a locked output level is typically
stabilized to better than +/- 0.5 % depending on the wavelength. See “Monitor
ports” on page 22

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Interfaces
Interfaces
Top panel The top panel is shown in Figure 4 and includes shutter controls and mounting
holes.
Figure 4 Top panel
Collimator release button and locking screw
The beam output from a SuperK laser is from a barrel shaped collimator on the
end of an armored fiber. When inserted into the optical input receptacle, it is
automatically retained by a locking mechanism that securely holds the barrel in
place. To release the collimator from the input receptacle, press the collimator
Release button (6). When the collimator is inserted, use the nearby locking screw
(5) to securely fasten it.
Mounting holes
The two mounting holes (2) are designed to fasten the SuperK SELECT to either
metric or imperial optical tables that have screw holes spaced at either 25 mm or
1” pitch.
NOTE: Two set of mounting screws are supplied in the NKTP Tool kit. One set
with metric threads and one set with imperial.
1 NIR/IR output shutter control 4 Auxiliary input
2 Mounting holes 5 Collimator locking screw
3 VIS/NIR output shutter control 6 Collimator release button
5
1
34
6
22

Interfaces
< 20 >
NIR/IR output shutter
This shutter can be set to block or unblock the NIR/IR output emission the
aperture. Setting the shutter to Closed, blocks emission and setting it to Open,
unblocks emission from the aperture.
VIS/NIR output shutter
This shutter can be set to block or unblock the VIS/NIR filtered output emission
from the aperture. Setting the shutter to Closed, blocks emission and setting it
to Open, unblocks emission from the aperture.
Output monitors
See “Monitor optical output apertures” on page 21.
Auxiliary input
A beam from an optional extra laser light, is transmitted through the AUX input
port, where after it bypasses the VIS/NIR AOTF it is combined with the output
from the VIS/NIR output. The AUX input is intended for use with legacy SuperK
lasers that are limited in bandwidth to add for example, a 405 nm light source
to the output. When not used, a cover plate is mounted on the aperture.
AUX Output (not shown)
This is an IR output where unused and unfiltered light from the input beam of
the SuperK laser is emitted from the SELECT. The port is intended for use with
for example, another SuperK SELECT operating at higher wavelengths. When
not used, a cover plate is mounted on the aperture to block emission.