Revealing Pre-pulses, Post-pulses, Pedestals, Satellites
High contrast measurements with the Autocorrelator pulseCheck SM Type 2 autocorrelator provide information about how far in time and intensity the main pulse is accompanied by pre-pulses, post-pulses and pedestals.
With a high dynamic range of 107, the pulseCheck SM Type 2 is ideally suited for the characterization of high-intensity, high-repetition rate laser pulses, such as the used in material processing or in ultra-high intensity light-matter interaction experiments.
Figure: SM Type 2 high contrast autocorrelation measurement of an industrial femtosecond fiber laser with a nominal pulse duration of ~ 280 fs (please note the ps scale of the measurement). Measurement conditions: ~ 1030 nm, 35 mW, 1 MHz.
All models come with an easy to use data acquisition software, allowing for real-time data display. Furthermore, the TCP/IP-based standard software interface by APE makes it straight forward to set up remote control. This allows you, for example, to design your own automated measurement routines. Simply use our protocol templates for rapid configuration with familiar programming languages, including C++, C#, LabVIEW, Python, Matlab, and Ruby.
Laboratories and manufacturers are often faced with systematically establishing an unbroken chain of calibrations to specified references. All APE autocorrelator models are calibrated to a traceable standard in accordance with NIST (U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology) measurement traceability specifications. A printed and signed calibration certificate is provided with each pulseCheck.
The APE Software Interface is based on the standard TCP/IP communication protocol. This enables integration of APE’s devices into your Local Area Network (LAN) as well as using the readily available infrastructure of the internet for large distance remote access. TCP/IP communication is well supported by a wide variety of programming languages. A complete interface documentation comes with each device. Here you can download some examples that demonstrate how to use the software interface with common programming languages (C++, C#, LabVIEW™, Python, Matlab and Ruby).
Download: C++ | C# | LabVIEW™ | Python | Matlab | Ruby
Key advantages of the TCP/IP Interface are:
| pulseCheck | SM Type 2 |
| Pulse width | <100 fs … 400 ps |
| Wavelength range | 700 nm … 1100 nm |
| Recommended repetition rate | >10 Hz |
| Max. input power, | 0.5 W for quasi-cw laser |
| Pulse energy | 5 µJ for kHz laser |
| Input beam polarization | Linear, any |
| Input beam coupling | Free-space with 6 mm aperture |
| Input beam height | 76 mm |
| Measurement refresh rate | 120 ps/sec depending on scan range |
| Delay resolution | 1 fs normal operation 25 fs high contrast operation |
| Contrast | Depending on laser repetition rate: 10-7 for >100 kHz, 10-6 for >10 Hz |
| Type of measurement mode | Non-collinear intensity and collinear interferometric - switchable |
| Available detector types | Photodiode (PD) with fixed wavelength range |
| Calibration | NIST traceable calibration certificate included |
| Trigger mode | TTL <100 kHz |
| Phase matching | Software-supported |
| Intensity resolution | 18 bit |
| Connectivity | Ethernet, USB, TCP/IP (SCPI command set) |
| Remote control | Programmable via API |
APE pulseCheck SM Type 2 Datasheet (pdf / English)
