Affordable control for laser applications

Laser diode controller has the performance and features expected from instruments costing twice as much.

Available now from Lambda Photometrics, the LDC501 laser diode controller is a highly stable low-noise current source with an integrated TEC temperature controller available at a very affordable price.

It is the ideal instrument for controlling the current and temperature of laser diodes, and has the performance and features expected from instruments costing twice as much.

With an inbuilt a low-noise current source that delivers up to 500mA, a 36W high-precision temperature controller, and standard computer interfaces including Ethernet, the LDC501 is the right choice for laser diode testing and control applications.

The LDC501 has an intuitive user interface, and many first time users will be able to operate the instrument without having to crack open the manual (although the company does recommend reading the manual).

Unlike competing models, the LDC501 has a dedicated front-panel display for parameter entry.

Users don't have to sacrifice monitoring temperature or current to simply change an instrument setting - there is a separate two-line, blue alphanumeric display for that.

In addition, bright five-digit green LED displays constantly monitor current and temperature, and are large enough to easily read from anywhere in the lab.

Two modes of operation are available for the laser diode current source: constant current mode (CC) programs the source to a precise DC amplitude.

Alternatively, the constant optical power mode (CP) servos the current source to maintain a constant signal on a monitor photodiode.

Both control modes allow users to add an external modulation signal, with adjustable bandwidth up to 1.1MHz (in CC mode) or 10kHz (in CP mode).

Remote operation of the LDC501 is supported with GPIB, RS232 and Ethernet interfaces.

All instrument functions can be controlled and read over any of the interfaces.

Up to nine complete instrument configurations can be saved in nonvolatile RAM and recalled at any time.

The LDC501's integrated 36W temperature controller lets users adjust temperature with 0.001C resolution, and measure temperature with 0.01C accuracy (with a calibrated sensor).

It maintains a typical stability of 0.0005C/C with respect to room temperature, and has a very wide temperature control range.

The TEC controller also has two modes of operation: constant temperature mode (CT) controls the TEC current to maintain a fixed temperature (or raw sensor value), while constant current mode (CC) operates the TEC at a fixed current.

Thermistor, RTD and IC sensors are all supported.

The LDC501 has a temperature coefficient of 10ppm/C, which is a factor of five better than competing models, making it the ideal controller for precision laser diode experiments.

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