THORLABS INTUN Series User manual

TL1300-B/TL1550-B
INTUN Series Tunable Lasers
User Guide

Table of Contents
Chapter 1Safety....................................................................................................................................3
Chapter 2Description...........................................................................................................................4
2.1.What is a Tunable Laser Source (TLS)?........................................................................4
2.2.Littrow External Cavity Laser (ECL) Geometry ............................................................4
2.3.Components ....................................................................................................................4
2.4.Features ...........................................................................................................................5
2.5.Operating Elements ........................................................................................................5
Chapter 3Setup.....................................................................................................................................7
3.1.Software Installation.......................................................................................................7
3.2.General Information about GUI......................................................................................7
3.3.Getting Started ................................................................................................................8
Chapter 4Operation..............................................................................................................................9
4.1.System Organization.......................................................................................................9
4.2.INTUN Laser Operation...................................................................................................9
4.3.Main Tab.........................................................................................................................10
4.4.Parked Tab.....................................................................................................................10
4.5.Sweep Tab......................................................................................................................11
4.6.Dither Tab.......................................................................................................................12
4.7.Misc Tab.........................................................................................................................14
4.8.Status Tab......................................................................................................................14
4.9.SW Drivers.....................................................................................................................16
Chapter 5Service and Maintenance..................................................................................................17
5.1.Troubleshooting............................................................................................................17
5.2.Service............................................................................................................................17
5.3.Warranty.........................................................................................................................17
Chapter 6Specifications.....................................................................................................................19
Chapter 7Regulatory...........................................................................................................................20
Chapter 8Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts..........................................................................................21

INTUN Series Tunable Lasers Chapter 1: Safety
740-TL1300-B-B Manual Intun TL1300-B Page 3
Chapter 1 Safety
Prior to operating the INTUN tunable laser, you should read this chapter to avoid damage to the unit, connected
circuit, or personnel. The safety instructions given herein must be strictly adhered to at all times. All statements
regarding safety of operation and technical data in this instruction manual will only apply when the unit is operated
correctly.
WARNING
This unit can deliver radiation that can cause eye damage. Make sure to strictly adhere to the safety
recommendations of the appropriate laser safety class. The laser safety class is marked on the laser
unit.
SHOCK WARNING
Mobile telephones, cellular phones, or other radio transmitters are not to be used within the range
of three meters of this unit, since the electromagnetic field intensity may then exceed the maximum
allowed disturbance values according to EN 50 082-1.
INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION
Avoid exposure to the beam.
Class 3B laser product
700 – 1000 nm <500 mW
Avoid direct eye exposure.
Class 3R laser product.
1150 – 1700 nm <50 mW

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D
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T
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o
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m
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: The beam
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escript
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INTUN syst
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ration state
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T
LS) is a las
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range. Th
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the acron
y
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CL, since an
d
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m
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ach applicat
w
avelength r
a
)
.
a
l Cavity
L
1, the INTU
N
s
tuning arra
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UN configur
a
Fi
gu
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al port is p
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xiting the IN
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tem: The I
N
3
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s
B
i
on
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m will oper
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d
within this
m
Source (T
e
r whose out
p
e
INTUN las
LS can be th
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m TLS is s
o
hnical desig
n
ECL is not n
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easuremen
t
ion requires
a
nge, side m
L
aser (EC
L
N
TLS is base
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gement allo
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a
tion offers a
l
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re 1 Sch
e
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otected by
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TUN laser i
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ystem. Fiber
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te correctly
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LS)?
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ut wavelen
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er’s tuning
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ught of as a
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e
cessarily tu
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t
application
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L
) Geomet
r
d
on a semic
o
w
s for high o
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matic of th
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w
coupling is n
o
a
nd meet the
b
e met.
g
th can be s
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r
ange typical
n optical equ
s
ed intercha
n
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r itself. The
r
n
able.
s
to record
s
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wledge of s
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ion levels,
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r
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onductor las
e
u
tput power
w
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INTUN s
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h
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th a diamete
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ith four thre
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ormally done
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ept (continu
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ivalent to the
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geably with
r
efore, TLS
e
s
ome quantit
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o
me or all
o
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pontaneous
e
r mounted i
n
w
hile maintai
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ust cavity.
tem
h
ich slides si
r
of less than
a
ded 4-40 h
o
using the ca
Chapter 2:
D
f
ications, req
o
us or rando
m
m
15 nm to
conventiona
l
ECL (Exter
n
e
ncompasse
s
y
(e.g., inten
o
f the param
noise levels,
n
Littrow exte
r
n
ing a large
m
deways usin
g
5 mm.
o
les, allowin
g
ge system.
D
escription
Page 4
uirements
m
access)
150 nm,
l electrical
n
al Cavity
s
a larger
sity) as a
eters that
linewidth,
r
nal cavity
m
ode-hop-
g a small
g
for easy

INTUN Series Tunable Lasers Chapter 2: Description
740-TL1300-B-B Manual Intun TL1300-B Page 5
•SM1 Thread: The INTUN laser is equipped with internal SM1 threading on the optical exit port, thus
enabling seamless integration into a SM1 lens tube system.
2.4. Features
The INTUN laser offers continuously tunable mode-hop-free operation. This system is controlled via a USB
interface. The USB port is treated by the host software as a serial com through virtual com port drivers (VCP).
The set of commands for the INTUN laser are based on the MSA standard for tunable lasers and includes
additional commands to improve functionality.
The INTUN laser series comes with a LabVIEWTM software package that enables the user to control the laser via
a computer. The software package contains a standalone graphical user interface (GUI) and drivers that can be
run from within LabVIEWTM. Dynamic link library drivers (DLL) are available upon request and enable driver
integration into a large number of programming languages.
•USB interface with extensive set of PC host software
•High-resolution wavelength tuning with modulation functions (coherence control)
•High-resolution optical power control with modulation functions
•Continuous and mode-hop-free sweep capability over entire wavelength range
•Robust design
•High-performance, single-mode, low noise spectral characteristics
oHigh spectral purity
oSignal to source spontaneous emission ratio
oSide mode suppression
2.5. Operating Elements
Figure 2 INTUN Laser Front Panel
The INTUN laser is switched on and off with a key and controlled by software optimized for a WindowsTM PC.
Please see Section 3.1 for information on software installation.

INTUN Series Tunable Lasers Chapter 2: Description
740-TL1300-B-B Manual Intun TL1300-B Page 6
•Modulation Input: Modulation input for analog optical power modulation. Maximum signal amplitude is
2 VP-P.
•Wavelength Output: Analog output signal representing the actual wavelength. The output amplifier is
0 to 4 V. The load should have an impedance of 10 kΩor higher.
•Power On: LED indicates main power on.
•Laser On: LED indicates laser optical power on.
•Modulation On: LED indicates Analog Dither enabled. The optical power can be modulated with the
modulation input BNC connector.
•System Error: LED indicates a fatal failure.
Figure 3 INTUN Laser Rear Panel
•USB: This is the communication interface to the host controller (WindowsTM PC). Use an A to type mini B
USB cable.
•Interlock: To enable laser output, the DB9 connector pin 1 and pin 2 must be connected. This feature
should be used to comply with safety requirements where applicable.
Figure 4 Interlock Circuit Schematic
•DC +48 V: 48 V DC Main Power Input (48 V power supply included).
V+
V+
Interlock

INTUN Series Tunable Lasers Chapter 3: Setup
740-TL1300-B-B Manual Intun TL1300-B Page 7
Chapter 3 Setup
3.1. Software Installation
See the INTUN-B software installation guide included in the host software CD package (right click the CD drive).
Figure 5 Software Installation
3.2. General Information about GUI
The GUI executable is a ready-to-use graphical user interface where all laser features can be controlled from
within five tabs. All of these features can also be controlled from within the control software (right click the CD
drive to access the installation and driver documentation- see Figure 5 above). See pages 10 to 14 for more
information.
•Main tab: Control wavelength and power; read the actual wavelength through a laser wavelength sensor.
•Parked tab: Tune the wavelength in three different modes: closed loop, step, and piezo/fine tuning,
features that allow both fast and ultra-high-resolution tuning.
•Sweep tab: Set a wavelength continuous mode-hop-free sweep between two different wavelengths with
a specific tuning speed. (0.02 to 100.00% of max tuning speed, see model-specific max tuning speed).
•Dither tab: Set digital dither to internally generate modulation signals for optical power (frequency and
depth) and wavelength (depth). Supports simultaneous modulation of both power and wavelength. Enable
analogue dither for external modulation control of optical power through front panel BNC connector.
•Status tab: Laser status; cleared when exiting the tab.
White controls and slides are adjustable (when not grayed out). Items on the GUI with yellow background or
yellow parts are read-only indicators.

INTUN Series Tunable Lasers Chapter 3: Setup
740-TL1300-B-B Manual Intun TL1300-B Page 8
3.3. Getting Started
After installation of the INTUN software, connect the unit following the steps below:
1) Connect the power supply adapter and USB cable.
2) Connect the interlock at the rear panel.
3) Turn on the INTUN laser (the system will be lasing at this point).
4) Start the INTUN GUI from the start menu.
5) Select the INTUN in the USB devices list.
6) A pop-up dialog will pause the GUI during the laser initiating process. The INTUN-B startup time is less
than one minute, after which the GUI is enabled.
7) The GUI will be initiated with current laser settings and ready to use.
NOTE
When the laser is started, the lasing will be activated during the start-up sequence and will remain
activated until you switch it off.
3.3.1. First-Time Operation
Once the INTUN laser and GUI are started, set power and wavelength with the knobs or enter values in white
digital controls.
If turned off/on or reset, the laser will go through the start-up sequence again, during which the GUI will be
paused for less than one minute (typically around 20 seconds).
!!

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NTUN Serie
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40-TL1300-
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his tab allo
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4
.4. Par
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he Parked
m
1) Cont
r
Wav
e
2) Step
3) Fine
0.1 p
m
s
Tunable La
s
B
-B Manual I
n
n
Tab
w
s you to sw
ngth.
e
button, cur
r
a
n have save
tbutton, the
k
ed Tab
m
ode has thr
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olled Mod
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e
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Mode: The
w
Tune Mode
:
m
. This mod
e
s
ers
n
tun TL1300-
itch the lase
r
r
ent settings
c
d values set
f
INTUN laser
e
e different ty
p
e
:The wav
e
u
tion is aroun
d
w
avelength is
:
The wavel
e
e
cannot be u
s
B
r
on and off,
c
an be save
d
f
rom power-
u
Fi
gu
will perform
p
es of wavel
e
e
length is c
o
d
5 pm (mod
e
tuned in disc
e
ngth is tune
d
s
ed together
control the
o
d
for later us
e
u
p or reset.
u
re 7 Main
a hardware
r
e
ngth tuning:
o
ntrolled by
e
l-specific).
rete steps of
d
by a piez
o
with digital w
o
ptical powe
r
e
. For exam
p
Tab
r
eset, equiva
feedback t
o
less than 0.
5
o
actuator.
W
avelength Di
t
r
and wavele
p
le, wavelen
g
lent to turnin
o
reach th
e
5
pm.
W
avelength r
e
t
her.
Chapter 4:
ngth, and di
s
g
th, power, a
g the power
e
desired w
a
e
solution is b
Operation
Page 10
s
plays the
nd sweep
supply off
a
velength.
etter than