Globar IR Light Source

>4.5 W Power Light Source with 550 nm - 15 µm Output
Stabilized Color Temperature and Output Power
Long Emitter Lifespan: 5000 Hours (Average)

Controller Included

SLS303

Stabilized Globar Light Source,
550 nm - 15 µm, 4.5 W Output

SLS303B

Replacement Globar

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Overview
Specs
Graphs
Globar Replacement
Pin Diagrams
Feedback
Lamp Selection Guide

Key Specifications^a
Item #	SLS303
Emitter Type	Stabilized Silicon Nitride Globar
Wavelength Range	550 nm - 15 µm
Color Temperature	1200 K
Output Optical Power	4.5 W
Output Beam Diameter	50 mm
Output Power Stability^b	0.05%
Optical Drift per Hour (Typical)	0.01%
Optical Power Drift per °C (Typical)	0.2%
Emitter Electrical Power	70 W
Emitter Lifespan (Average)	5000 Hours^c

Complete specifications can be found on the Specs tab.
The standard deviation of optical output power in percentage, measured at room temperature over 1 hour with a 1 Hz sampling rate after 45 minutes warm-up.
Defined as the time after which the controller cannot stabilize the output power of the emitter.

Filter Holder Attached to Benchtop Light Source

Click to Enlarge
Benchtop Light Source with
60 mm Cage System and
LCP05A(/M) Filter Mount with
Color-Balancing Filter

Features

Silicon Nitride Globar with 550 nm - 15 µm Output
Collimated Output for Free-Space Applications
Internally SM2-Threaded Aperture
Four 4-40 Threaded Holes for 60 mm Cage System at Front Output

Thorlabs' SLS303 Silicon Nitride Globar Light Source provides stable, high-power IR and MIR illumination. This source features an internal feedback system to provide highly stable output power (0.05% fluctuation). Since the blackbody spectrum of this source a wide spectral range, this source is ideal for integration into optical measurement equipment, such as back illumination for a test target as part of a detector calibration system.

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Collimated Output

Each SLS303 source includes a lens to collimate the high-power, broadband output into a Ø50 mm beam for free-space applications. For convenience, the position of the collimation lens is factory set; however, it is also user-adjustable should slight tweaks to the collimation be necessary. For additional mechanical stability, the feet are removable, allowing the source to be bolted directly to any standard imperial or metric optical table with user supplied 1/4"-20 or M6 screws, respectively. The front face features four 4-40 taps (as shown in the image above) for 60 mm cage rods, making this device compatible with Thorlabs' 60 mm cage system. Using the cage system, it is possible to incorporate various optic mounts that are centered along the optical center of the collimated beam.

A replacement Globar is available below. Please see the Globar Replacement tab for detailed instructions.

If a higher color temperature is desired, our color-balancing filters can be used to attenuate red light from a light source while passing blue light. This results in a beam with a higher color temperature and lower total power.

Item #	SLS303
Emitter Type	Silicon Nitride Globar
Wavelength Range	550 nm - 15 µm
Color Temperature	1200 K
Output Optical Power	4.5 W
Typical Spectral Output	0.1 W (400 - 700 nm) 4.4 W (700 - 15 000 nm)
Optical Power Stability^a	0.05%
Optical Drift per Hour (Typical)	0.01%
Optical Power Drift per °C (Typical)	0.2%
Output Beam Diameter	50 mm
Emitter Electrical Power	70 W
Lamp Housing Dimensions (L x W x H)	213.7 mm x 217.0 mm x 261.2 mm (8.41" x 8.54" x 10.28")
Controller Dimensions (L x W xH)	299.9 mm x 149.8 mm x 80.2 mm (11.81" x 5.90" x 3.16")
Emitter Lifespan (Average)	5000 Hours^b
Operating Temperature	0 °C to 35 °C
Storage Temperature	-15 °C to 70 °C

Standard deviation of optical output power in percentage, measured at room temperature over 1 hour with a 1 Hz sampling rate after 45 minutes warm-up.
Defined as the time after which the controller cannot stabilize the output power of the Globar.

SLS303B Globar Specifications
Wavelength Range	550 nm - 15 µm
Emitter Type	Silicon Nitride Globar
Color Temperature	1200 K
Globar Electrical Power	70 W
Emitter Dimensions (Typical)	Ø4.5 mm x 17 mm
Lifespan (Average)	5000 Hours
Operating Voltage	12 V

Click to Enlarge
The power output and temperature of an SLS303 light source were measured over 55 hours of continuous operation. The source was run for 60 minutes to warm up and stabilize before this data was taken. The temperature was held at 25 ± 2 °C.

Stabilized Quartz-Tungsten-Halogen Light Source

Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The measured spectral power distribution for the SLS303 light source compared to a 1200 K black body. The measured data does not extend beyond 5.6 µm due to spectrometer limitations.

Globar Handling

The Globar emitter used in the SLS303 light source operates at a very high temperature. If handled incorrectly, it will become a serious hazard to users and could potentially cause severe injury. It is critical to follow safety instructions when handling it.

The guidelines below describe safe Globar emitter handling.

Never bump, drop, apply excessive stress, or scratch the emitter.
Always transport the emitter in the provided protective case or cover until installation.
Save the protective case or cover and packaging materials (box) for emitters that have been used to their rated service life.
Clean any dirt, oil, or lint away from the emitter with alcohol and a lint free cloth or tissue.
Always wear gloves when handling the lamp; never hold the lamp by its envelope. Thorlabs offer gloves that can be used for lamp handling.
The emitter generates very high-intensity light output; never stare directly into the lamp.
The emitter gets very hot during operation. Always wait at least 30 minutes after operation for the lamp to cool down before handling.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is recommended when handling the emitter.

Globar Replacement

The installation instructions and videos below detail the recommended procedure for replacing the Globar emitter in our SLS303 Globar Light Source. Do not attempt to change the emitter while the emitter or lamp housing are hot. Allow at least 30 minutes after turning the light source off before attempting to replace the emitter.

We strongly recommend wearing gloves when replacing the emitter to prevent skin oils from being deposited onto the lamp. If you suspect the emitter is dirty, carefully clean it with alcohol before connecting it to a power supply.

Please note that the Globar modules should only be handled with protective gloves.

Open the Lamp Housing

Using a 4 mm hex key, remove the screws on the side plate. An engraving on the top of the unit indicates which side plate to remove.

Remove the Old Globar Module

Undo the orange clips holding the Globar wires in place.
Using a 2 mm hex key, loosen the setscrew on top of the Globar module and remove the screw on the side by turning them counterclockwise.
Remove the old module from the socket.

Install the New Module

Route the yellow wires and insert the new module into the socket.
Insert the wires into their sockets and engage the orange clips.
Insert the side screw and then retighten the top setscrew to secure the module.
Replace the side panel and secure with the four M5 cap screws.

SLS303 Connectors

10-Pin Female Connector

10-Pin Female Connector
Pin	Connection	Pin	Connection
1	Bulb Ground	6	Ground
2	Bulb +12 V	7	Ground
3	Ground	8	+12 V
4	Monitor PD Signal	9	Signal Ground
5	Signal Ground	10	Ground

Monitor Photodiode Out
Analog Output, 0 to 5 V

Posted Comments:

user (posted 2024-12-22 17:34:15.903)

Seems when we turn the light source on, it will let out a big surge of current to the samples that are sitting nearby or connected through the circuits. Is that normal?

cdolbashian (posted 2025-01-02 04:49:21.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs! We would like to discuss the phenomenon you observed in detail through techsupport@thorlabs.com. As you have not provided a name or email address, we will wait for you to reach out to your local support team using the above address. We look forward to hearing from you.

Below is a selection guide for all of our white-light, broadband, lamp-based light sources. In addition to these sources, Thorlabs also offers unmounted white-light LEDs, white-light mounted LEDs, white-light fiber-coupled LEDs, and high-powered, white-light Solis^® LEDs.

Broadband Light Source Selection Guide
Item #	(Click to Enlarge; Not to Scale)	Emitter Type	Wavelength Range (Click for Plot)	Output Coupling	Output Power	Lamp Electrical Power	Color Temperature	Lamp Lifetime	Replacement Lamp
SLS204		Deuterium	200 - 700 nm	Free Space or Fiber Coupled (SMA)	2 mW^a 0.1 mW^b (Typ.)	30 W	N/A	2000 h^c	SLS254B
SLS205		Xenon Arc	240 - 1200 nm	Free Space or Fiber Coupled (SMA)	290 mW^a 5 mW^d (Typ.)	75 W	5800 K^a 5400 K^d	2000 h^c	SLS255B
SLS401		Xenon Arc	240 - 2400 nm	Free Space^e	>1.3 W^a	150 W	5800 K	2000 h^c	SLS401B^f or SLS402B
SLS402		Mercury-Xenon Arc	240 - 2400 nm	Free Space^e	>1.3 W^a	150 W	6000 K	2000 h^c	SLS401B or SLS402B^f
SLS302		Quartz Tungsten-Halogen	360 - 2500 nm	Free Space^e	>10 W^a	150 W	3400 K	1000 h^g	SLS301B
SLS201L(/M)		Quartz Tungsten-Halogen	360 - 2600 nm	Free Space^e or Fiber Coupled (SMA)	500 mW^a 10 mW^h	9 W	2796 K	10 000 h	SLS251
SLS301		Quartz Tungsten-Halogen	360 - 3800 nm	Free Space^e	>1.6 W^a	150 W	3400 K	1000 h^g	SLS301B
SLS603		Xenon Arc	380 - 780 nm	Ø3 mm Liquid Light Guide	>7 W^h	300 W	6000 Kⁱ	1000 h^c	SLS600B
SLS605		Xenon Arc	380 - 780 nm	Ø5 mm Liquid Light Guide	>15 W^h	300 W	6000 Kⁱ	1000 h^c	SLS600B
OSL2		Tungsten-Halogen	400 - 1600 nm (Typical)	Fiber Bundle	1.4 W^k	150 W	3200 K	1000 h^c	OSL2B^f, OSL2B2, or OSL2BIR
OSL2IR		Tungsten-Halogen	400 - 1750 nm (Typical)	Fiber Bundle	3.8 W^k	150 W	3200 K	200 h^c	OSL2B, OSL2B2, or OSL2BIR^f
QTH10(/M)		Quartz Tungsten-Halogen	400 - 2200 nm	Free Space	50 mW (Typ.)	10 W	2800 K^l (Typ.)	2000 h	QTH10B
SLS203F(/M)		Silicon Carbide Globar	500 nm - 9 µm	Free Space^e or Fiber Coupled (SMA)	1.8 W^a	24 W	1500 K	10 000 h	SLS253
SLS303		Silicon Nitride Globar	550 nm - 15 µm	Free Space	4.5 W^a	70 W	1200 K	5000 h^g	SLS303B

Free-space optical power measured without adapters at the beginning of lamp lifetime.
Measured with Thorlabs' M114L01 solarization-resistant patch cable at beginning of lamp lifetime.
Operation time before the maximum optical output power of the lamp reaches 50% of its original output.
Measured with Thorlabs' M111L01 solarization-resistant patch cable at beginning of lamp lifetime.
Adapters are available separately to couple the free-space output into liquid light guides (LLGs).
This lamp is identical to the original lamp that comes with the light source.
Operation time before the controller cannot stabilize the output power of the lamp.
Measured at the liquid light guide tip at the beginning of lamp lifetime.
Prior to LLG
Fiber-coupled optical power, measured with included fiber patch cable at beginning of lamp lifetime.
Power at Fiber Tip at Maximum Lamp Intensity
Color temperature will vary from unit to unit.

Stabilized Silicon Nitride Globar Light Source: 550 nm - 15 µm

Zoom

Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The measured spectral power distribution for the SLS303 Light Source compared to a 1200 K black body. The measured data does not extend beyond 5.6 µm due to spectrometer limitations.

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SLS303 75 W Controller

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The Globar module has an integrated aluminum reflector that focuses light radiated by the Globar towards the front aperture.

Globar Source for 550 nm - 15 µm
4.5 W Output Power Collimated in a Ø50 mm Beam
Low Power Fluctuations of <0.05% within 1 Hour
Optical Drift: 0.01% per Hour / 0.2% per °C
60 mm Cage System Compatible
Manual Shutter

Thorlabs' SLS303 Silicon Nitride Globar Light Source is designed to provide 4.5 W of free-space illumination over the 550 nm - 15 µm range. An internal feedback system is employed to achieve a highly stable power output (0.05% fluctuation). The high-power output is collimated into a Ø50 mm beam for free-space applications. An aluminum reflector collects light from the silicon nitride Globar element and reflects it towards the front of the housing in order to maximize the output power. The mirror alignment is factory set to maximize the output, but it can also be adjusted by the user using the three adjustment knobs on the back of the housing.

The light source is shipped with a factory-installed, uncoated zinc selenide (ZnSe) collimation lens. The lens tube of the collimation lens features internal SM2 (2.035"-40) threading for easy integration of SM2-threaded parts. Please note that the SLS303 should not be used with our liquid light guides due to the MIR radiation. A knob on the front of the lamp housing allows a manual shutter to block the output if desired. The front face of the lamp housing can also integrate a 60 mm cage system.

The included controller, pictured to the upper right, has three LED indicator lights for temperature, Globar emitter status, and lifespan. During normal operation, all three will be green. If the controller becomes overheated, the "Temperature" indicator will switch to red and the light source will be automatically shut off. The "Lamp Status" indicator will show green if the correct Globar emitter is installed in the SLS303, or red if no emitter is present or if the wrong emitter is installed. The "Lifespan" indicator shows yellow once the emitter reaches 75% of its lifespan and red once it reaches 100%.

The large box design of the lamp housing allows for the safe dissipation of thermal energy produced by the 70 W Globar. When used for an extensive amount of time, the housing can heat up to ~60 °C, so extensive contact should be avoided. Replacement Globars are sold below.

Replacement Globar Module

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Replacement Silicon Nitride Globar for SLS303 Stabilized Light Source
Electrical Power: 70 W
Color Temperature: 1200 K (Click for Spectrum)

The SLS303B replacement Globar module is compatible with the SLS303 stabilized light source. Please see the Globar Replacement tab for detailed instructions.

Note: We strongly recommend wearing gloves when replacing the emitters in our light sources to prevent skin oils from being deposited onto them. If you suspect the emitter is dirty, carefully clean it with alcohol before connecting it to a power supply.