COOL (constant optical output level)
A hands-off solution for fiber-coupled lasers that saves users time and reduces stress.
TOPTICA's COOL (Constant Optical Output Level) technology is a unique solution for high-power, hands-off, fiber-coupled lasers. Aligning and focusing a laser beam into ultra-tiny single-mode fibers with the highest efficiency is challenging. Even the slightest laser pointing fluctuations, tiny beam path deviations, and minimal thermal or mechanical drifts in the fiber mounting can contribute to a significant loss of fiber coupling efficiency, resulting in reduced power and performance for the user. Until now, manual realignment by a trained person was often required during installation and periodically to recalibrate the laser output power. However, manually aligning optomechanical fiber couplers with external tools can be error-prone and time-consuming.
TOPTICA's COOL, a patent-pending fiber coupling concept, saves users time and effort with its automated fiber coupling (COOL AC) or permanently aligned fiber coupling (COOL DC). TOPTICA's COOL technology does not use any mechanical adjustable parts, such as those found in optomechanical fiber couplers. COOL AC optimizes fiber coupling and can monitor fiber coupling efficiency internally without the need for external tools or equipment, such as power meters. This means the fiber can remain connected to the microscope or user set-up while fiber alignment is optimized at the touch of a button in the Graphical user interface (GUI). With TOPTICA's COOL DC technology, all major optical components are solidly mounted and the optical micro-alignment is resistant to mechanical and thermal distortions or translations.
There are two versions of the COOL technology available.
COOLAC:
- AutoCalibration feature that optimizes fiber coupling efficiency fully hands-off in tens of seconds
- Users can run experiments without stress or interruptions.
- Fiber coupling values of over 50% can be restored with a single push-button command.
- Ideally suited for complex, multi-laser solutions of the iChrome product family
- Drop shipment warranty: The laser is aligned and within specifications after the push-button command.
COOLDC:
- DuraCalibrated solution for compact OEM diode lasers
- Factory set to a permanent fiber coupling efficiency of greater than 50%.
- Unsusceptible to thermal fluctuations between 15 and 35 °C
- Unsusceptible to extensive mechanical disturbances
- Drop shipment warranty: The laser is immediately in spec after unpacking.
COOL AC | COOL DC | |
---|---|---|
iBeam smart PT | ✔ | |
iChrome CLE | ✔ | |
iChrome MLE | ✔ | |
iChrome FLE | ✔ |