Photodiode Power Sensors (C-Series)

Overview
Specs
Pin Diagram
Pulse Calculations
Console Selection
Feedback
Sensor Selection

Features

Fast Response Time and High Resolution
C-Series Connector Design for Quick Sensor Connection
Over-Temperature Alert Sensor (Except S130 Series and S170C Microscope Slide Sensor)
Individually Calibrated with NIST- or PTB-Traceable Certificate of Calibration Plus Embedded Calibration Curve and Sensor Settings

Thorlabs' C-Series Photodiode Power Meter Sensors cover a wide power and wavelength range. These sensors are offered in standard, slim, microscope slide, integrating sphere, and compact fiber versions to meet your specific application requirements. They are the best sensor choice when a fast response time or high resolution is required and there is not a need for a flat spectral response.

These photodiode power meter sensors feature enhanced shielding to avoid electromagnetic interference as well as an over-temperature alert sensor to warn against damage and measurement errors due to overheating of the sensor (except the S130C Series Slim Sensors and the S170C Microscope Slide Sensor). For all sensors (except the S130C Slim Sensors and the S170C Microscope Slide Sensor), a set of fiber adapters is available to connect them to standard optical fiber patch cables (see below). Other fiber adapter types are available upon request.

The sensors below (except the S150C series) have universal 8-32 and M4 taps for mounting to Ø1/2" Posts. Posts and post holders are not included and sold separately.

Compatibility
The Photodiode Sensors presented here are compatible with C-Series power meter consoles including the PM400, PM100D, PM100A, PM100USB, and PM320E. The S150C Series Fiber Sensors are integrated into the connector itself and directly plugged into the console.

Calibration
Each sensor head is individually calibrated and is shipped with NIST- or PTB-traceable calibration data. The included data will match the calibration certification of the photodiode used to test the individual sensor. The calibration and identification data is stored in the connector of the sensor and is downloaded automatically to the connected power meter console.

Thorlabs offers specific recalibration services for all our photodiode power sensors. To ensure accurate measurements, we recommend recalibrating the sensors annually. To order this service, scroll toward the bottom of the page and select the appropriate Item # that corresponds to your power sensor. For questions and pricing information pertaining to this service, please contact Tech Support.

Sensor Upgrade Service
All C-Series Sensors are incompatible with old power meter consoles with non-C-Series connectors. We offer a sensor upgrade service if you want to use your existing sensors with a new power meter console with C-Series connector. Note: upgraded sensors will be incompatible with old power meter consoles with non-C-Series connectors. Please contact our Tech Support team for details.

Recalibration Service
Recalibration services are available for these photodiode power sensors. To order this service, scroll to the bottom of the page and select the appropriate Item # that corresponds to your sensor.

Photodiode Sensor Selection Guide
Housing Type	Standard	Slim	Microscope Slide	Integrating Sphere	Fiber-Coupled
Power Range	50 nW - 500 mW	500 pW - 500 mW	10 nW - 150 mW	1 µW - 20 W	100 pW - 20 mW
Wavelength Range	200 - 1800 nm	200 - 1800 nm	350 - 1100 nm	350 - 5500 nm	350 - 1700 nm
Typical Application	General Measurement	Tight Places	Microscope Alignment and Calibration	Divergent Beams	Fiber
Fiber Adapters Available	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes

These specifications were obtained at an ambient room temperature of 23 °C ± 0.5 °C and a humidity of 45% ± 15%.

Standard Photodiode Sensors: S120C Series

Item #	S120VC	S120C	S121C	S122C^a
Technical Specs
Detector Type	Silicon Photodiode (UV Extended)	Silicon Photodiode	Silicon Photodiode	Germanium Photodide
Wavelength Range	200 nm - 1100 nm	400 nm - 1100 nm	400 nm - 1100 nm	700 nm - 1800 nm
Optical Power Range	50 nW - 50 mW	50 nW - 50 mW	500 nW - 500 mW	50 nW - 40 mW
Max Average Power Density^b	20 W/cm²			10 W/cm²
Max Pulse Energy	20 µJ
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution^c	1 nW	1 nW	10 nW	2 nW
Measurement Uncertainty^d	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (280 - 439 nm) ±7% (200 - 279 nm, 981 - 1100 nm)	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (400 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (400 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)	±5%
Responsivity^e (Click for Details)	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data

The minimum measurable power for Germanium photodiodes can vary due to large fluctuations in the sensor's dark current, which is dependent on wavelength and temperature. This is particularly true at the edges of the sensor's operating range where the responsivity is lower. The S122C also includes an ND filter with high attenuation from 700 nm to 900 nm in front of the sensor. This will also affect the measurable minimum power in that wavelength range.
For continuous wave (CW) sources, this value is equivalent to the peak power density, while for pulsed laser sources this value is calculated from the time-averaged power and beam profile.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting.
Beam diameter > 1 mm.
All sensor responsivities shown in these plots were calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals.
For the S120VC, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had a reflective ND diffuser (OD1). Additionally, they came with an 8-32 tap and M4 adpater. For additional information, please contact technical support.
For the S120C, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had an absorptive ND diffuser (Schott NG3). Additionally, they came with an 8-32 tap and M4 adpater. For additional information, please contact technical support.
For the S121C, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had an absorptive ND diffuser (Schott NG9). Additionally, they came with an 8-32 tap and M4 adpater. For additional information, please contact technical support.

Slim Profile Photodiode Sensors: S130C Series

Item #	S130VC	S130C	S132C^a
Technical Specs
Detector Type	Silicon Photodiode (UV Extended)	Silicon Photodiode	Germanium Photodide
Wavelength Range	200 nm - 1100 nm	400 nm - 1100 nm	700 nm - 1800 nm^b
Optical Power Range (with Filter)	500 pW - 0.5 mW^c (Up to 50 mW)^c	500 pW - 5 mW (Up to 500 mW)	5 nW - 5 mW (Up to 500 mW)
Max Average Power Density^d	20 W/cm²		10 W/cm²
Max Pulse Energy	20 µJ
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution	100 pW^e	100 pW^e	1 nW^f
Measurement Uncertainty^g	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (400 - 439 nm) ±7% (200 - 279 nm, 981 - 1100 nm)	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (280 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)	±5%
Responsivity^h (Click for Details)	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data

The minimum measurable power for Germanium photodiodes can vary due to large fluctuations in the sensor's dark current, which is dependent on wavelength and temperature. This is particularly true at the edges of the sensor's operating range where the responsivity is lower.
For the S132C, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had a reflective ND diffuser (OD1), which would decrease the wavelength range from 700 nm to 1800 nm to 1200 nm to 1800 nm. For additional information, please contact technical support.
For the S130VC, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had an optical power range of 5 nW - 5 mW (50 nW - 50 mW with filter) and a reflective ND diffuser (OD1). For additional information, please contact technical support.
For continuous wave (CW) sources, this value is equivalent to the peak power density, while for pulsed laser sources this value is calculated from the time-averaged power and beam profile.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting, without filter.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting at 1550 nm, without filter.
Beam Diameter > 1 mm.
All sensor responsivities shown in these plots were calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals.
For the S130C, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had an absorptive ND diffuser (Schott NG9). For additional information, please contact technical support.

Microscope Slide Photodiode Sensor

Item #	S170C
Technical Specs
Detector Type	Silicon Photodiode
Wavelength Range	350 - 1100 nm
Optical Power Working Range	10 nW - 150 mW
Max Average Power Density^a	20 W/cm²
Max Pulse Energy	N/A
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution^b	1 nW
Calibration Uncertainty^c	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (350 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)
Responsivity^d (Click for Details)	Raw Data

For continuous wave (CW) sources, this value is equivalent to the peak power density, while for pulsed laser sources this value is calculated from the time-averaged power and beam profile.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting.
Beam diameter > 1 mm.
The sensor responsivity shown in this plot was calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals.
Please note that the S170C power meter head is not compatible with older Thorlabs power meter consoles (PM100, PM30, PM300, PM300E, and S100).

Integrating Sphere Photodiode Sensors

Item #	S140C	S142C	S144C	S145C	S146C	S148C	S180C
Technical Specs
Detector Type	Si Photodiode		InGaAs Photodiode				HgCdTe (MCT) Photodiode
Wavelength Range	350 nm - 1100 nm		800 nm - 1700 nm		900 nm - 1650 nm	1200 - 2500 nm	2900 - 5500 nm
Optical Power Range	1 µW - 500 mW	1 µW - 5 W	1 µW - 500 mW	1 µW - 3 W	10 µW - 20 W	1 µW - 1 W	1 µW - 3 W
Max Average Power Density^a	1 kW/cm²	2 kW/cm²	1 kW/cm²	2 kW/cm²		1 kW/cm²
Max Pulse Energy Density	1 J/cm²	7 J/cm²	1 J/cm²	7 J/cm²		1 J/cm²
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution^b	1 nW				10 nW	1 nW	10 nW
Measurement Uncertainty^c	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (350 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)		±5%
Responsivity^d (Click for Plot)	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data

For continuous wave (CW) sources, this value is equivalent to the peak power density, while for pulsed laser sources this value is calculated from the time-averaged power and beam profile.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting.
Beam Diameter > 1 mm.
All sensor responsivities shown in these plots were calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals except for the S180C. See the S180C responsivity plot to see the NIST-traceable reference points.

Fiber-Coupled Photodiode Sensors: S150C Series

Item #	S150C	S151C	S154C	S155C
Technical Specs
Detector Type	Si Photodiode		InGaAs Photodiode
Wavelength Range	350 nm - 1100 nm	400 nm - 1100 nm	800 nm - 1700 nm	800 nm - 1700 nm
Optical Power Range	100 pW - 5 mW (-70 dBm to 7 dBm)	1 nW - 20 mW (-60 dBm to 13 dBm)	100 pW - 3 mW (-70 dBm to 5 dBm)	1 nW - 20 mW (-60 dBm to 13 dBm)
Max Average Power Density^a	100 mW/cm²	10 W/cm²	100 mW/cm²	10 W/cm²
Max Pulse Energy	20 µJ
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution^b	10 pW (-80 dBm)	100 pW (-70 dBm)	10 pW (-80 dBm)	100 pW (-70 dBm)
Measurement Uncertainty^c	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (350 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (400 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)	±5%
Responsivity^d (Click for Details)	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data

For continuous wave (CW) sources, this value is equivalent to the peak power density, while for pulsed laser sources this value is calculated from the time-averaged power and beam profile.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting.
For a beam diameter > 1 mm incident on the active area of the detector (i.e. at the detector surface after the light has exited the fiber and passed through any internal optics).
All sensor responsivities shown in these plots were calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals.
This specification is valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx and higher. For older versions, please contact technical support.

Sensor Connectors

D-Type Male

DB9 Male

Pin	Connection
Pin	S120, S140, and S150 Series, S170C, and S180C Sensors	S130 Series Sensors
1	Not Used
2	EEPROM Data
3	Photodiode Anode and NTC Ground	Photodiode Anode
4	Photodiode Cathode
5	Not Used
6	EEPROM Ground
7	NTC	Slider Detection
8	Not Used
9	Not Used

Pulsed Laser Emission: Power and Energy Calculations

Click above to download the full report.

Determining whether emission from a pulsed laser is compatible with a device or application can require referencing parameters that are not supplied by the laser's manufacturer. When this is the case, the necessary parameters can typically be calculated from the available information. Calculating peak pulse power, average power, pulse energy, and related parameters can be necessary to achieve desired outcomes including:

Protecting biological samples from harm.
Measuring the pulsed laser emission without damaging photodetectors and other sensors.
Exciting fluorescence and non-linear effects in materials.

Pulsed laser radiation parameters are illustrated in Figure 1 and described in the table. For quick reference, a list of equations are provided below. The document available for download provides this information, as well as an introduction to pulsed laser emission, an overview of relationships among the different parameters, and guidance for applying the calculations.

Equations:
Period and repetition rate are reciprocal:		and
Pulse energy calculated from average power:
Average power calculated from pulse energy:
Peak pulse power estimated from pulse energy:
Peak power and average power calculated from each other:
	and
Peak power calculated from average power and duty cycle*:
	*Duty cycle () is the fraction of time during which there is laser pulse emission.

Click to Enlarge

Figure 1: Parameters used to describe pulsed laser emission are indicated in the plot (above) and described in the table (below). Pulse energy (E) is the shaded area under the pulse curve. Pulse energy is, equivalently, the area of the diagonally hashed region.

Parameter	Symbol	Units
Pulse Energy	E	Joules [J]	A measure of one pulse's total emission, which is the only light emitted by the laser over the entire period. The pulse energy equals the shaded area, which is equivalent to the area covered by diagonal hash marks.
Period	Δt	Seconds [s]	The amount of time between the start of one pulse and the start of the next.
Average Power	P_avg	Watts [W]	The height on the optical power axis, if the energy emitted by the pulse were uniformly spread over the entire period.
Instantaneous Power	P	Watts [W]	The optical power at a single, specific point in time.
Peak Power	P_peak	Watts [W]	The maximum instantaneous optical power output by the laser.
Pulse Width		Seconds [s]	A measure of the time between the beginning and end of the pulse, typically based on the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the pulse shape. Also called pulse duration.
Repetition Rate	f_rep	Hertz [Hz]	The frequency with which pulses are emitted. Equal to the reciprocal of the period.

Example Calculation:

Is it safe to use a detector with a specified maximum peak optical input power of 75 mW to measure the following pulsed laser emission?

Average Power: 1 mW
Repetition Rate: 85 MHz
Pulse Width: 10 fs

The energy per pulse:

seems low, but the peak pulse power is:

It is not safe to use the detector to measure this pulsed laser emission, since the peak power of the pulses is >5 orders of magnitude higher than the detector's maximum peak optical input power.

Thorlabs offers a wide selection of power and energy meter consoles and interfaces for operating our power and energy sensors. Key specifications of all of our power meter consoles and interfaces are presented below to help you decide which device is best for your application. We also offer self-contained wireless power meters and compact USB power meters.

When used with our C-series sensors, Thorlabs' power meter consoles and interfaces recognize the type of connected sensor and measure the current or voltage as appropriate. Our C-series sensors have responsivity calibration data stored in their connectors. The console will read out the responsivity value for the user-entered wavelength and calculate a power or energy reading.

Photodiode sensors deliver a current that depends on the input optical power and the wavelength. The current is fed into a transimpedance amplifier, which outputs a voltage proportional to the input current. The photodiode's responsivity is wavelength dependent, so the correct wavelength must be entered into the console for an accurate power reading. The console reads out the responsivity for this wavelength from the connected sensor and calculates the optical power from the measured photocurrent.
Thermal sensors deliver a voltage proportional to the input optical power. Based on the measured sensor output voltage and the sensor's responsivity, the console will calculate the incident optical power.
Energy sensors are based on the pyroelectric effect. They deliver a voltage peak proportional to the pulse energy. If an energy sensor is recognized, the console will use a peak voltage detector and the pulse energy will be calculated from the sensor's responsivity.

The consoles and interfaces are also capable of providing a readout of the current or voltage delivered by the sensor. Select models also feature an analog output.

Consoles

Item #	PM100A	PM100D	PM400	PM320E
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Key Features	Analog Power Measurements	Digital Power and Energy Measurements	Digital Power and Energy Measurements, Touchscreen Control	Dual Channel
Compatible Sensors	Photodiode and Thermal Power	Photodiode and Thermal Power; Pyroelectric
Housing Dimensions (H x W x D)	7.24" x 4.29" x 1.61" (184 mm x 109 mm x 41 mm)	7.09" x 4.13" x 1.50" (180 mm x 105 mm x 38 mm)	5.35" x 3.78" x 1.16" (136.0 mm x 96.0 mm x 29.5 mm)	4.8" x 8.7" x 12.8" (122 mm x 220 mm x 325 mm)
Channels	1			2
External Temperature Sensor Input (Sensor not Included)	-	-	Instantaneous Readout and Record Temperature Over Time	-
External Humidity Sensor Input (Sensor not Included)	-	-	Instantaneous Readout and Record Humidity Over Time	-
GPIO Ports	-		4, Programmable	-
Source Spectral Correction	-	-		-
Attenuation Correction	-	-		-
External Trigger Input	-	-	-
Display
Type	Mechanical Needle and LCD Display with Digital Readout	320 x 240 Pixel Backlit Graphical LCD Display	Protected Capacitive Touchscreen with Color Display	240 x 128 Pixels Graphical LCD Display
Dimensions	Digital: 1.9" x 0.5" (48.2 mm x 13.2 mm) Analog: 3.54" x 1.65" (90.0 mm x 42.0 mm)	3.17" x 2.36" (81.4 mm x 61.0 mm)	3.7" x 2.1" (95 mm x 54 mm)	3.7" x 2.4" (94.0 mm x 61.0 mm)
Refresh Rate	20 Hz		10 Hz (Numerical) 25 Hz (Analog Simulation)	20 Hz
Measurement Views^a
Numerical
Mechanical Analog Needle		-	-	-
Simulated Analog Needle	-
Bar Graph	-
Trend Graph	-
Histogram	-		-
Statistics
Memory
Type	-	SD Card	NAND Flash	-
Size	-	2 GB	4 GB	-
Power
Battery	LiPo 3.7 V 1300 mAh		LiPo 3.7 V 2600 mAh	-
External	5 VDC via USB or Included AC Adapter		5 VDC via USB	Selectable Line Voltage: 100 V, 115 V, 230 V (±10%)

These are the measurement views built into the unit. All of our power meter consoles except the PM320E can be controlled using the Optical Power Monitor software package. The PM320E has its own software package.

Interfaces

Item #	PM101	PM101A	PM101R	PM101U	PM100USB
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Key Features	USB, RS232, UART, and Analog Operation	USB and Analog SMA Operation	USB and RS232 Operation	USB Operation	USB Operation
Compatible Sensors	PM101 Series: Photodiode and Thermal Power PM102 Series: Thermal Power and Thermal Position & Power				Photodiode and Thermal Power; Pyroelectric
Housing Dimensions (H x W x D)	3.80" x 2.25" x 1.00" (96.5 x 57.2 x 25.4 mm)	3.94" x 2.25" x 1.00" (100.0 x 57.2 x 25.4 mm)	3.78" x 2.25" x 1.00" (95.9 x 57.2 x 25.4 mm)	3.68" x 2.25" x 1.00" (93.6 x 57.2 x 25.4 mm)	3.67" x 2.38 " x 1.13" (93.1 x 60.4 x 28.7 mm)
Channels	1
External Temperature Sensor Input (Sensor Not Included)	NTC Thermistor	-
External Humidity Sensor Input (Sensor not Included)	-
GPIO Ports	-
Source Spectral Correction	-
Attenuation Correction	-
External Trigger Input	-
Display
Type	No Built-In Display; Controlled via GUI for PC
Refresh Rate	Up to 1000 Hz^a				Up to 300 Hz^a
Measurement Views^b
Numerical	Requires PC^b
Mechanical Analog Needle	-
Simulated Analog Needle	Requires PC^b
Bar Graph	Requires PC^b
Trend Graph	Requires PC^b
Histogram	Requires PC^b
Statistics	Requires PC^b
Memory
Type	Internal Non-Volatile Memory for All Settings				-
Size	-
Power
Battery	-
External	5 VDC via USB or 5 to 36 VDC via DA-15	5 VDC via USB

Dependent on PC Settings
These power meter interfaces do not have a built-in monitor, so all data must be displayed through a PC running the Optical Power Meter Software.

Posted Comments:

user (posted 2020-10-17 10:14:25.98)

I have a photodiode S132C, I measure the photocurrent by transimpedance amplifier and next lock-in at 0V bias. I need to determine the power density of the light out from the monochromator. What area do I need to take to right calculate power density, the active detector area, or beam size?

MKiess (posted 2020-10-19 10:38:08.0)

Thank you very much for your inquiry. To measure the power density, you should use the beam size incident on the sensor.

pao chen (posted 2020-09-14 13:37:16.15)

I have 2 units of S120VC working with 2 PM100D meters. However, I leant that the reading of S120VC is about 55%~ 60% of that measured by various SiC sensors at 265nm and 275nm. It is significant to determine which reading is correct in UV measurement. Can you please provie your opinion on this matter?

MKiess (posted 2020-09-15 04:55:14.0)

Thank you very much fo your inquiry. If the sensor is currently calibrated and the wavelength and power range settings on the Power Meter are correct, the S120VC should have a maximum measurement uncertainty of ±7% in this wavelength range. I have contacted you directly to discuss your measurement results in detail.

Michal Pelach (posted 2020-07-09 08:41:26.2)

Is it possible to get sensor calibration data at 785 nm?

MKiess (posted 2020-07-10 08:29:39.0)

This is a response from Michael at Thorlabs. Each S120VC is individually calibrated before delivery. Therefore the values are slightly different for each sensor. The typical value for the responsivity of the S120VC at 785nm is 35.69mA/W. I have contacted you directly to discuss the exact details for your sensor.

li bo (posted 2020-06-16 21:01:29.83)

积分球传感器里面脏了，怎么清理呢

wskopalik (posted 2020-06-17 10:26:09.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. The question is how integrating sphere sensors like the S142C can be cleaned. The housing may be cleaned by wiping with a soft damp cloth. The integrating sphere inner surface however cannot be cleaned and should not be touched. You can gently blow off any debris using compressed air. If this does not remove all the dirt or dust in the sphere, the sphere will probably need to be exchanged so you would need to send the sensor in for a repair. Our Tech Support team in China will reach out to you directly.

達也真藤 (posted 2020-04-16 21:52:55.94)

積分球パワーセンサS146Cについて、スペックシートにMax Pulse Energy Density 7 J/cm²との記載があったが、これはレーザの1周期中に放射される1パルスの全放射エネルギーを意味している、という解釈で良いか確認させて頂きたい。

MKiess (posted 2020-04-20 05:26:42.0)

お問合せをありがとうございました。ソーラボジャパンの技術サポートから直接回答をいたします。

xinxin peng (posted 2020-04-10 16:55:13.01)

应用太有限，我们希望底部有个M4的螺孔，用支柱用于各种光路系统中，希望采纳。

YLohia (posted 2020-04-10 09:40:01.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. An applications engineer from our Tech Support team in China will reach out to you directly.

user (posted 2020-02-25 10:34:47.983)

Hi, I'm using the S130C to measure the power of a beam, either collimated, divergent or focused. Is it normal to have different power values depending on whether the beam covers a large fraction of the detector's surface (case of collimated beam) or covers a small surface (focused beam)? Thank you for your help Best

nreusch (posted 2020-02-27 09:02:08.0)

This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your feedback! S130C comes with a Si photodiode. Photodiodes in general are sensitive to the angle of incidence. So for focused and divergent beams, you will always have parts of the beam that will not hit the sensor at a right angle, which will affect the measurement. Photodiode sensors will also not show a completely uniform response over their active area. Therefore, the specified measurement uncertainty is only valid for beam diameters larger than 1 mm. You should also take care to not overfill the sensor with a divergent beam. We will contact you directly to discuss your specific application in more detail.

Matthew Kirchner (posted 2019-11-25 13:24:07.727)

Hi, does the S142C correct for temperature dependence of the Si photodiode responsivity?

dpossin (posted 2019-11-27 08:43:20.0)

Dear Customer, Thank you for your feedback. The S142C does not compensate temperature effects of the sensor automatically. However it is possible to compensate the temperature dependent dark current with our powermeter consoles. I am reaching out to you to provide further information on that.

user (posted 2019-11-15 12:57:48.94)

Dear Thorlabs, We are considering ordering one of your products to measure the average power of a scanned pulsed laser, that reaches an aperture of a few mm, with the following parameters: » Beam width: 1 mm » Wavelength: 1,5 micron » Pulse energy: 1 micro-Joule » Pulse duration: 1 nW The pulse train incident on the opening depends on its diameter as well as the scanning parameters: » Repetition frequency: minimum 10 Hz (frame rate); maximum 1MHz (pulse repetition rate) » Average power on aperture: typical 10 mW; minimum 10 micro-W; maximum 1 W (static beam). Which kind of power meter do you recommend for the described application: a photo-diode/integrating sphere or a thermopile? Sincerely, Flávio Ferreira ----- University of Minho Department of Physics

MKiess (posted 2019-11-18 06:12:44.0)

This is a response from Michael at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. Depending on the pulse duration, repetition rate, laser power and the general conditions of your application, a thermal sensor or a photodiode sensor may be suitable for you. In order to be able to use this optimally, different conditions have to be fulfilled depending on the sensor type. Details can be found under the following link: https://www.thorlabs.de/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=6188&tabname=%20Sensor%20Selection I contacted you directly to discuss further details and select the most suitable sensor together with you.

Karim Elkhouly (posted 2019-10-23 07:39:14.07)

I am considering using an integrated sphere for calibrated EQE measurements of LEDs. I am wondering what is the fundamental difference between standard power meters like the S120VC and ones for integrating spheres. Especially that the minimum detectable power is much higher in the latter option. Can I use S120VC with integrating sphere for example ?

MKiess (posted 2019-10-28 11:09:54.0)

This is a response from Michael at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. The radiation scattered in the integrating sphere is almost ideally diffuse over the specified spectrum. This allows on the one hand to measure a photometric standard and on the other hand to measure the power or the total radiation flux of different light sources, independent of beam uniformity, divergence, beam shape and entrance angle, making them excellent for use with fiber sources and off-axis free space sources. Due to the diffusivity, the power range is also higher than that of the sensors with which the radiation is measured directly, such as the S120VC. These are therefore better suited for measurements of collimated beams with small powers. I have contacted you directly to select the most suitable sensor for your application together.

Andrey Kuznetsov (posted 2019-07-12 15:15:12.757)

S12X series photodiodes have a poorly modeled solidworks file, can you update the model to reflect the internal size and position of the photodiode. While the aperture is 9.5mm, the aperture appears to be 3.3mm from the photodiode based on PDF drawing. This means that when measuring divergent light, if the photodiode is not large enough to collect all the light passing through the 9.5mm aperture then the measurement will be wrong. A +-45 degree light passing through a 9.5mm aperture with detector at 3.3mm away from aperture will expand the minimum radius of the photodiode by 3.3mm to 16.1mm diameter.

wskopalik (posted 2019-07-23 10:33:46.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! It is generally not recommended to measure strongly divergent beams with a S12X series sensor. One reason is - as you have mentioned - that it is difficult to make sure that all the light is collected by the photodiode. In addition, photodiodes also show a dependence of the responsivity with respect to the angle of incidence. So these sensors are not ideal. For a divergent beam e.g. the sensors of the S14X series would be much more suitable. These have an integrating sphere which makes the collection of the light easier and which also ensures that the light is shining on the photodiode perpendicularly. I will contact you directly regarding these sensors and the drawings.

Andrey Kuznetsov (posted 2019-07-09 11:39:03.727)

Please update the Drawing for S122C, it points to a PDF that includes other photodiodes and does not explicitly mention S122C anywhere.

mmcclure (posted 2019-07-11 08:16:35.0)

Hello, thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have added the S122C-specific PDF drawing on the webpage.

user (posted 2019-07-03 19:19:41.117)

Can Thorlabs improve the calibration uncertainty from 3% to 1%? This is the major sticking point when considering Thorlabs photodiodes for use in precise calibration systems where 0.5% errors matter.

dpossin (posted 2019-07-05 10:34:27.0)

Dear customer, Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately we can not specify an uncertainty of 1% over the full spectral range. Our references are calibrated by PTB or NIST and have an uncertainty of 0.3% up to 1.5% with respect to the wavelength. If we take into account the expanded uncertainty trough the reference and the calibration Setup, we get an Overall uncertainty of 2% for silica based sensors and 3% for germanium based sensors.

user (posted 2019-06-19 11:51:29.203)

Could you use the same ND filter that you used for the S121C Silicon head so as to allow this Ge head to measure up to 500mW? We could really use a Ge head that measures up to 500 mW.

wskopalik (posted 2019-06-21 09:57:17.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! We should be able to offer this as a custom version. I will contact you directly regarding your requirements. Alternatively, you could also use the S132C which has a Ge photodiode and can measure up to 500mW or also the S144C which has an InGaAs photodiode. On the S144C the wavelength range is slightly different, but you can also measure up to 500mW.

user (posted 2019-05-01 13:02:36.09)

The strain relief for the cable exiting the 9 way D connector head-shell is inadequate. From active use in the lab, the flexing has broken the outer sheath and is putting strain onto the inner conductors. I have had to effect an interim repair - can send you pics if you contact me.

wskopalik (posted 2019-05-02 07:47:21.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your feedback! I'm sorry to hear about this issue with your sensor. I will contact you directly so you can send me pictures of the defective cable. I'm sure that we will find a good solution in this case.

Fabian Röser (posted 2019-04-09 04:02:07.897)

Dear Sir/Madam, when measuring the average power of a pulsed system with a S145C integrating sphere, I noticed that the response is strongly dependend on the actual repetition rate of the pulse train. Measuring at 50kHz shows only a fraction of the average power. Could you please specify the repetition frequency band of quasi-cw signals in which these Sensors can be used? Also, can they be modified to work with repetion rates in the kHz range? Thanks in advance

nreusch (posted 2019-04-16 06:16:03.0)

This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry. The behavior that you observed results from the combination of the rise and fall times of the photodiode as well as the electronic bandwidths of amplifiers and converters of the readout circuits. I recommend using a thermal power head in order to measure the average power of a pulsed system. I will contact you directly to discuss different options for your application.

yongqi.shi (posted 2019-01-30 09:26:44.323)

Dear Sir/Madam, I'm using S130C power sensor. When I use the filter to measure the optical power around 28mW, I found that the there's always a 15% to 20% deviation when change the incident angle of the beam from -20 deg to 20 deg. What would be the reason and how to get a more precise measurement? Thank you in advance.

wskopalik (posted 2019-02-04 10:51:28.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! The ideal case for photodiode sensors is if the beam hits the photodiode and the filter perpendicularly. This is how the sensors are calibrated so the accuracy is the highest in this case. The responsivity of photodiodes as well as the attenuation of filters depend on the angle of incidence. This means that the displayed power readings will change if the angle of incidence is changed. Thermal power sensors are more suitable for applications in which the angle changes because they have much less dependence on the angle of incidence. I will contact you directly to provide further assistance.

user (posted 2019-01-23 13:11:44.777)

Dear Sir. Is it possible to use two Powermeter S121 at the same time with the same software on PC?Now I only can choose one USB-connection at the software.

wskopalik (posted 2019-04-05 11:02:09.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your feedback! Yes, it is possible to operate up to eight power meters simultaneously in the power meter software. You would need a power meter for each sensor which you want to operate in the software. Maybe there is an issue with one of these connections. It is however hard to tell without further details. Unfortunately, you didn't leave any contact details in the feedback so I cannot contact you directly. Please feel free to contact me any time at europe@thorlabs.com.

abc124771 (posted 2019-01-21 17:01:19.24)

What does 'max. avg. power density' of 20W/cm2 signify? Does it mean it can withstand 20W? Or is the max. power it can withstand given by the range which is 500mW for S130C?

swick (posted 2019-01-25 04:11:07.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. The max. average power density represents the damage threshold of the sensor.

dietrich (posted 2018-12-13 10:50:27.293)

Dear, Sir. We want to measure light which is more or less broadband with a wavelength of 1900 to 2300 nm in the power range from 1 mW to 1 W. Unfortunaly your detector S148C has in this area strong nonlinearities. Is it possible that you replace the build in photo diode with a different one like extended InGaAs with a cutoff wavelength of 2.6 μm? With best Regards Christian Markus Dietrich

nreusch (posted 2018-12-19 02:22:17.0)

This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. Yes, we can offer customized versions of our integration spheres with different diodes. I will contact you directly to discuss further details.

aSadykov (posted 2018-07-17 09:55:31.477)

Dear, Sir. Datasheet for S122C include parameter -"Measurement Uncertainty" which is equal to "+/- 5%". and collibration has been made in accordiance with NIST. I'd like to make clear "Measuremet Uncertainty" in data sheet is "Standard measurement uncertainty" or something else. https://www.nist.gov/itl/sed/topic-areas/measurement-uncertainty With best Reguards Andrey Sadykov

nreusch (posted 2018-07-20 10:17:17.0)

This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry! Your assumption is correct. The "Measurement Uncertainty" specification corresponds to the "Standard Measurement Uncertainty" as defined by NIST.

jhamilton (posted 2018-05-30 13:19:00.957)

Can you please provide me with operational temperature range for the S122. Can you also provide me with RoHS status. Thank you

mvonsivers (posted 2018-06-05 05:15:09.0)

This is a response from Moritz at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry. The RoHS declaration can be found by clicking on the red document button next to the product number. The sensors are calibrated at room temperature, operating them at other temperatures will reduce the accuracy of the measurement.

cyprien.lanthermann (posted 2018-04-19 16:09:31.14)

Hi, could you tell me the accuracy on the diameter of the photodiode? Thanks, Lanthermann Cyprien

swick (posted 2018-04-27 04:16:20.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. The Photodiode used in S132C has an active area of 9.7 mm x 9.7 mm and the clear aperture is 9.5 mm (+/- 0.02 mm).

user (posted 2018-01-15 09:28:55.797)

Hi, is the sensor head is well shielded against ESD? or should the user be grounded while connecting it to the console? Thanks,

mvonsivers (posted 2018-01-16 08:19:12.0)

This is a response from Moritz at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry. As the photodiode is mounted inside the sensor housing it is generally not as ESD sensitive as a bare photodiode. Nevertheless, the user must use handling procedures that prevent any electro static discharges or other voltage surges when handling or using these devices.

mailfert (posted 2017-11-17 13:28:07.937)

Hi, The glass window in front of my detector is broken, not the sensor. This window is removable so I'm trying to know if we can just buy the window without the complete sensor.Best regards.

wskopalik (posted 2017-11-22 04:41:47.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! We don't recommend to exchange the ND filter window on these sensors yourself because the calibration is only valid with the filter which was mounted during the calibration. There are slight differences from filter to filter. So if the filter needs to be exchanged, the sensor needs to be recalibrated after the exchange. This can only be done in our facilities. I will contact you directly to discuss the further proceedings.

lebouquj (posted 2017-10-11 16:47:30.52)

Hi, I am interested by detection in 1200-2500nm spectral range, with minimum flux 10nW. This spectral range is only made available in Integrating-Sphere design (S148C), thus is poorly sensitive (1uW). Would it be possible to have the sensor of S148C but packaged as the S132C (which has 5nW resolution) ? Thanks

wskopalik (posted 2017-10-16 05:06:35.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! The photodiode used in the S148C which can cover this spectral range only has an active area of 1 mm in diameter. So with our sensor designs this photodiode only works in an integrating sphere. E.g. for the S132C design, the active area would need to be 9.7 mm x 9.7 mm in size. Our R&D is looking into the possibility of offering a special sensor for your requirements and I will contact you directly about this.

storm.liao (posted 2017-09-15 09:57:27.58)

Would you please let me know the active area of S122C?

tcampbell (posted 2017-09-15 11:18:45.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The active detector area of the S122C is 9.7 mm x 9.7 mm. This value can be found on the spec sheet, but we will try to make it more visible on the website.

jv (posted 2017-09-02 08:43:39.217)

It would be great to have an adapter that allows the power detector to measure the output from an FC bulkhead (female). So the adapter would have a hole that fits over the threads of the bulkhead to measure power output. We use this ALL THE TIME for calibrating our products. Could also extend the idea to other bulkhead connectors. Thanks, Janis

mvonsivers (posted 2017-09-04 04:24:17.0)

This is a response from Moritz at Thorlabs. Thank you for your feedback. I agree that such an adapter would be useful and I will gladly forward your suggestion to our R&D department. At the moment you can still measure the output by using a short patch cable which can be connected to the power sensor via an S120-FC adapter.

ycandela (posted 2017-07-26 12:48:54.997)

I would like to use it from -40°C to 63°C.What is the operating temperature range of the integrating sphere S142C ? Tx

wskopalik (posted 2017-07-27 10:06:08.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. The sensor itself wouldn't be damaged in this temperature range. There are however two drawbacks regarding the measurement accuracy. First, you would need to make sure that there is no condensation inside the integrating sphere of the S142C due to the temperature change. Condensation would change the reflectivity of the sphere surface and would therefore affect the measurement values. Second, the responsivity of Silicon photodiodes is dependent on the temperature. The calibration of these sensors is made at room temperature so you will get the most accurate reading there. In your case the temperature changes over 100K which would certainly affect the accuracy. This effect is more pronounced from 1000nm to higher wavelengths. I will contact you directly to provide further assistance.

andrey.kuznetsov (posted 2017-04-11 21:43:48.073)

Do you have photodiodes that have 1% uncertainty error on calibration at 940nm? Newport offers several at this calibration error, but Thorlabs only seems to have 3% or more. Do you have a typical non-uniformity map of the 10x10mm photodiode sensors? I'd like to see how a small beam spot would be affected by non-uniformity. yes, I know you recommend at least 10% and others say calibration is done at 70% fill, I want a map to see for myself the non-uniformity.

wskopalik (posted 2017-04-12 03:48:25.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. We might be able to offer photodiodes with calibration uncertainties below 3%. We also have data about the non-uniformity of the responsivity of these photodiode sensors which I will send to you. The non-uniformity of the photodiode itself is about +/- 0.5%. The non-uniformity of the photodiode together with the ND filter on these sensors is in the range of +/- 1%. I will contact you directly to discuss this in more detail and to send you the requested data.

user (posted 2016-09-27 16:40:03.68)

I'm looking for a silicon carbide sensor which is sensitive to UV radiation only. Would be great if you extend for product range!

swick (posted 2016-09-29 03:54:02.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for the feedback. Currently we do not offer a Power Meter Sensor using SiC Photodiode. We will internally discuss this idea.

andrey.kuznetsov (posted 2016-07-20 17:39:30.253)

We would prefer to use Thorlabs products over Newport, but your lack of BNC adapter or terminating the photodiode with a BNC connector makes that impossible. Please offer Thorlabs to BNC adapter for the photodiodes as a standard item, the main reason being we need sub nA to uA current measurements and the dinky little power meters that are offered by Thorlabs and Newport just can't offer that kind of precision and accuracy, so we use Keithley picoammeters with BNC inputs and translate to watts using the provided calibration.

shallwig (posted 2016-07-21 10:25:00.0)

This is a response from Stefan at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your feedback, I have contacted you directly to send you a quote for this D-SUB to BNC adapter.

junruli (posted 2016-06-21 10:39:33.763)

it would be much much convenient for us if the angle of the cable is adjustable for space-constrained use. thanks

shallwig (posted 2016-06-23 06:16:22.0)

This is a response from Stefan at Thorlabs. Thank you for your Feedback, we will review this. I have contacted you directly to check the needs for your setup.

lee.cairns (posted 2014-09-24 13:22:09.82)

Hi, I have an item in my lab that I want to use with one of your power meters, but the input is via BNC. Do you sell a C-Series connector to BNC that would allow one of your power meters to interface with a BNC connection? Lee

shallwig (posted 2014-09-25 02:45:21.0)

This is a response from Stefan at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. We can offer you a special solution for connecting your sensor with BNC connector with our power meter. I will contact you directly to discuss which sensor type you have and to provide you a quote.

cbrideau (posted 2014-08-25 13:31:27.83)

I managed to crack the ND filter on my S170C. Would it be possible to get a new filter and some of the index matching gel to repair it? What would the best way be to get the gel off? It looks solid, so can I just peel it off? Also, the 'Feedback On' dropdown menu doesn't have the S170C in it.

shallwig (posted 2014-08-26 08:06:43.0)

This is a response from Stefan at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. I am sorry but we have to take the sensor back for inspection and repair. It is not recommendable that you repair the sensor by yourself as we also have to recalibrate the sensor. The calibration data saved in the EPROM are only valid for the build in ND filter. The performance of the ND filters vary from lot to lot. I will contact you directly for further assistance.

christopher.long (posted 2014-03-14 13:43:39.06)

Hi, can you tell me about the uniformity of the response across the full photodiode?

tschalk (posted 2014-03-31 07:57:19.0)

This is a response from Thomas at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. These sensors do not provide a completely uniform response over their active area. Thus, to overcome these uniformity issues, the incident beam should have a diameter that fills at least 10% of the sensors active area. I will contact you directly with more detailed information.

hambitza (posted 2013-07-02 01:52:38.183)

Do I need the display unit only to directly read out the power, or can I attach e.g. the S145C power meter simply to an oscilloscope or something similar and read out the voltage in this way?

tschalk (posted 2013-07-03 05:34:00.0)

This is a response from Thomas at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. When the diode is illuminated, a photocurrent will flow. This photocurrent is proportional to the irradiance. Normally, the photocurrent is amplified in the power meter and displayed on a screen. The resulting photo current can be determined through the typical response graph in the spec sheet of the Sensor: http://www.thorlabs.com/Thorcat/18300/S145C-SpecSheet.pdf. The resulting current is in the range from 0,1nA to 3mA and you have to convert the current into a voltage to measure it with an oscilloscope. If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me at Europe@thorlabs.com, I will be happy to assist you.

clarafly (posted 2013-05-13 03:20:15.297)

Can you sell the external SM1 threading adapter of the S14XC series separately? We want to use it with our old S144A.

jlow (posted 2013-05-14 09:20:00.0)

Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: We can definitely do this. We will contact you directly for the quote.

jvigroux (posted 2013-02-26 04:09:00.0)

A response from Julien at Thorlabs: thank you for your inquiry. The sample rate of the S150C when connected to one of our readout consoles is limited by the readout unit. There are different bandwidth and rate to be considered but the main ones are: 1. amplifier bandwidth-100kHz, 2. Clock frequency of the processor - 3kHz, 3. refresh rate of the display - 20Hz. the rise time of the diode itself that is built in the S150C is in the ns range. The interplay between all those time scales can be quite complex so that in order to estimate the usability of such a sensor for measurement of pulsed or modulated light, one needs to know the exact parameters of the light source. I will contact you to discuss furtehr your application.

tschalk (posted 2013-01-02 08:00:00.0)

This is a response from Thomas at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. To avoid saturation of the photo diode the specified max. power range must not be exceed. I will contact you directly for more detailed information. Best Regards, Thomas

sharon.goldstein (posted 2012-12-31 03:57:08.8)

Hi, I have the S142C integration sphere. Max power according to the spec is 5W CW. I'm modulating the input power - square wave 50% duty cylce, can I put the maximum power on 10W (--> average is kept on 5W). BTW, wavelength is 915nm? Thanks, Sharon

tschalk (posted 2012-10-25 08:12:00.0)

A response from Thomas at Thorlabs: Thank you for your inquiry. There is a damage threshold which is 20W/cm². You can find a lot more information in the spec sheet which you can find here: http://www.thorlabs.com/Thorcat/18300/S121C-SpecSheet.pdf

tds (posted 2012-10-24 21:27:44.193)

I am using the power meter with the S121C in an automated way where a well focused laser might occassionally cross the sensor. Is there a laser damage threshold for this sensor?

jvigroux (posted 2012-04-10 11:13:00.0)

A response from Julien at Thorlabs: thank you for your inquiry. Due to the large active areas of the photodiodes that are used in those sensors and the relatively small distance between fiber adapter output plane and sensor's surface, the FC adapter will work both for FC/PC and FC/APC. There is no risk that the deviation of the output beam from an angled cleave will bring the beam outside of the active area of the sensor

user (posted 2012-04-10 12:03:20.0)

any solution for FC/APC fiber??

klee (posted 2009-10-23 15:49:36.0)

A response from Ken at Thorlabs to stefan.wackerow: Unfortunately, the S130VC is not compatible with the old PM100. We can upgrade the older sensor heads to be compatible with the new PM100D power meter. Price for upgrade depends on which sensor head. Please let us know which sensor head you have so that we can send you a quote for the upgrade.

stefan.wackerow (posted 2009-10-23 06:41:46.0)

We have 2 power meters of the old PM100 type in use. We are interested in a S130VC. Is this new detector compatible to the old power meter? What about the sensor upgrade service, would it make the old sensors incompatible with the old power meters? What is the price?

Click to Enlarge
The PM160 wireless power meter, shown here with an iPad mini (not included), can be remotely operated using Apple mobile devices.

This tab outlines the full selection of Thorlabs' power and energy sensors. Refer to the lower right table for power meter console and interface compatibility information.

In addition to the power and energy sensors listed below, Thorlabs also offers all-in-one, wireless, handheld power meters and compact USB power meter interfaces that contain either a photodiode or a thermal sensor, as well as power meter bundles that include a console, sensor head, and post mounting accessories.

Thorlabs offers four types of sensors:

Photodiode Sensors: These sensors are designed for power measurements of monochromatic or near-monochromatic sources, as they have a wavelength dependent responsivity. These sensors deliver a current that depends on the input optical power and the wavelength. The current is fed into a transimpedance amplifier, which outputs a voltage proportional to the input current.
Thermal Sensors: Constructed from material with a relatively flat response function across a wide range of wavelengths, these thermopile sensors are suitable for power measurements of broadband sources such as LEDs and SLDs. Thermal sensors deliver a voltage proportional to the input optical power.
Thermal Position & Power Sensors: These sensors incorporate four thermopiles arranged as quadrants of a square. By comparing the voltage output from each quadrant, the unit calculates the beam's position.
Pyroelectric Energy Sensors: Our pyroelectric sensors produce an output voltage through the pyroelectric effect and are suitable for measuring pulsed sources, with a repetition rate limited by the time constant of the detector. These sensors will output a peak voltage proportional to the incident pulse energy.

Console Compatibility
Console Item #	PM100A	PM100D	PM400	PM320E	PM101 Series	PM102 Series	PM100USB
Photodiode Power						-
Thermal Power
Thermal Position	-	-		-	-		-
Pyroelectric Energy	-				-	-

Power and Energy Sensor Selection Guide

There are two options for comparing the specifications of our Power and Energy Sensors. The expandable table below sorts our sensors by type (e.g., photodiode, thermal, or pyroelectric) and provides key specifications.

Alternatively, the selection guide graphic further below arranges our entire selection of photodiode and thermal power sensors by wavelength (left) or optical power range (right). Each box contains the item # and specified range of the sensor. These graphs allow for easy identification of the sensor heads available for a specific wavelength or power range.

Photodiode Power Sensors

Thermal Power Sensors

Thermal Position & Power Sensors

Pyroelectric Energy Sensors

The response time of the photodiode sensor. The actual response time of a power meter using these sensors will be limited by the update rate of your power meter console.
Typical natural response time (0 - 95%). Our power consoles can provide estimated measurements of optical power on an accelerated time scale (typically <1 s) when the natual response time is approximately 1 s or greater. As the natural response times of the S415C, S425C, and S425C-L are fast, these do not benefit from accelerated measurements and this function cannot be enabled. For more information, see the Operation tab here.
With intermittent use: maximum exposure time of 20 minutes for the S401C, otherwise maximum exposure time is 2 minutes.
All pyroelectric sensors have a 20 ms thermal time constant, τ. This value indicates how long it takes the sensor to recover from a single pulse. To detect the correct energy levels, pulses must be shorter than 0.1τ and the repetition rate of your source must be well below 1/τ.

Sensor Options
(Arranged by Wavelength Range)

Sensor Options
(Arranged by Power Range)

Sensor Key

Standard Photodiode Power Sensors

S120C and quick release 30mm Cage System

Click to Enlarge
S120C and CP44F Quick-Release Mount

For General Purpose Optical Power Measurements
Integrated Viewing Target for Easy Sensor Alignment
Ø9.5 mm Sensor Aperture
Fiber Adapters Available Separately (See Table Below)
Sensor, Protective Cap, and IR Target Included

The S12xC Standard Photodiode Power Sensors are ideal for metering low power coherent and incoherent sources from the UV to the NIR. These sensors feature an integrated viewing target for easy alignment, enhanced shielding against electromagnetic interference, over temperature alert device, and large Ø9.5 mm sensor aperture. The sensors are compatible with Ø1/2" posts and SM1 (1.035"-40) lens tubes and are ideal for free-space and fiber-coupled sources. They may also be mounted in 30 mm cage systems using our selection of 30 mm Cage System Optic Mounts with internal SM1 threading.

Each sensor is shipped with NIST- or PTB-traceable calibration data. The included data will match the calibration certification of the photodiode used to test the individual sensor. Thorlabs offers a recalibration service for these photodiode power sensors, which can be ordered below (see Item # CAL1 for Si sensors and Item # CAL2 for Ge sensors).

Item #^a	S120VC	S120C	S121C	S122C^b
Sensor Image (Click the Image to Enlarge)
Aperture Size	Ø9.5 mm
Wavelength Range	200 - 1100 nm	400 - 1100 nm	400 - 1100 nm	700 - 1800 nm
Power Range	50 nW - 50 mW		500 nW - 500 mW	50 nW - 40 mW
Detector Type	Si Photodiode (UV Extended)	Si Photodiode		Ge Photodiode
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution^c	1 nW		10 nW	2 nW
Measurement Uncertainty^d	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (280 - 439 nm) ±7% (200 - 279 nm, 981 - 1100 nm)	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (400 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)		±5%
Responsivity^e (Click for Plot)	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data
Coating/Diffuser	Reflective ND (OD1.5)^f	Reflective ND (OD1)^g	Reflective ND (OD2)^h	Absorptive ND (Schott NG9)
Head Temperature Measurement	NTC Thermistor 4.7 kΩ
Housing Dimensions	Ø30.5 mm x 12.7 mm
Active Detector Area	9.7 mm x 9.7 mm
Cable Length	1.5 m
Mounting Thread^f,g,h	Universal 8-32 / M4 Tap, Post Not Included
Aperture Thread	External SM1 (1.035"-40)
Fiber Adapters	S120-FC, S120-APC, S120-SMA, S120-ST, S120-LC, and S120-SC (Not Included)
Compatible Consoles	PM400, PM100D, PM100A, PM101A, PM100USB, and PM320E

For complete specifications, please see the Specs tab.
The minimum measurable power for Germanium photodiodes can vary due to large fluctuations in the sensor's dark current, which is dependent on wavelength and temperature. This is particularly true at the edges of the sensor's operating range where the responsivity is lower. The S122C also includes an ND filter with high attenuation from 700 nm to 900 nm in front of the sensor. This will also affect the measurable minimum power in that wavelength range.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting.
Beam diameter > 1 mm.
All sensor responsivities shown in these plots were calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals.
For the S120VC, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had a reflective ND diffuser (OD1). Additionally, they came with an 8-32 tap and M4 adapter. For additional information, please contact technical support.
For the S120C, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had an absorptive ND diffuser (Schott NG3). Additionally, they came with an 8-32 tap and M4 adapter. For additional information, please contact technical support.
For the S121C, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had an absorptive ND diffuser (Schott NG9). Additionally, they came with an 8-32 tap and M4 adapter. For additional information, please contact technical support.

Slim Photodiode Power Sensors

Click to Enlarge

View Imperial Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
Imperial Product List
S130C	1	Slim Photodiode Power Sensor, Si, 400 - 1100 nm, 500 mW
CP02	2	SM1-Threaded 30 mm Cage Plate, 0.35" Thick, 2 Retaining Rings, 8-32 Tap
TR6	1	Ø1/2" Optical Post, SS, 8-32 Setscrew, 1/4"-20 Tap, L = 6"
ER6-P4	3	Cage Assembly Rod, 6" Long, Ø6 mm, 4 Pack
CM1-BS013	1	30 mm Cage Cube-Mounted Non-Polarizing Beamsplitter, 400 - 700 nm, 8-32 and M4 Adapters

View Metric Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
Metric Product List
S130C	1	Slim Photodiode Power Sensor, Si, 400 - 1100 nm, 500 mW
CP02/M	2	SM1-Threaded 30 mm Cage Plate, 0.35" Thick, 2 Retaining Rings, M4 Tap
TR150/M	1	Ø12.7 mm Optical Post, SS, M4 Setscrew, M6 Tap, L = 150 mm
ER6-P4	3	Cage Assembly Rod, 6" Long, Ø6 mm, 4 Pack
CM1-BS013	1	30 mm Cage Cube-Mounted Non-Polarizing Beamsplitter, 400 - 700 nm, 8-32 and M4 Adapters

S130C Sensor in a 30 mm Cage

Click for Details
SM1A29 SM1 Thread Adapter
Mounted on a S130C Sensor

Click for Details

View Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
Universal Product List
S130C	1	Slim Photodiode Power Sensor, Si, 400 - 1100 nm, 500 mW
FB-51	1	Single-Axis FiberBench, L = 51 mm, 5 Positions
FBSM	1	FiberBench Mount for Slim Photodiode Sensors
HCA3-SM1	1	FiberBench Wall Plate, FiberPort Compatible, Internally SM1-Threaded
PAF-X-5-B	1	FiberPort, FC/PC & FC/APC, f=4.6 mm, 600 - 1050 nm, Ø1.00 mm Waist
FBR-LPVIS	1	Rotating Linear Polarizer Module, 500 - 720 nm, Ø2.5 mm CA

S130C Photodiode Sensor Mounted in FiberBench System Using FBSM Mount

For Optical Power Measurements in Confined Spaces
Very Slim Design: 5 mm Thin on Sensor Side
Ø9.5 mm Sensor Aperture
Slideable ND Filter Automatically Changes Sensor Power Range
Accessories Available Separately Below:
- SM1A29 Adapter with VIS/IR Target and External SM1 Threading
- FBSM Mount with VIS/IR Target for FiberBench Systems

The S13xC Slim Photodiode Power Sensors are designed to take optical source power measurements in locations where space and accessibility are at a premium. The 5 mm thin
Slim Photodiode Sensors can fit between closely spaced optics, cage systems, and other arrangements where standard power meters may not fit. These sensors also feature a large Ø9.5 mm sensor aperture and slideable neutral density filter for dual power ranges in one compact device.

A separately available SM1A29 adapter can be attached by 2 setscrews to any S130 series power sensor to mount fiber adapters, light shields, filters or any other SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) mechanics or optics. The FBSM Mount allows our S130 series power sensors to be mounted vertically into FiberBench systems for stable mounting with a minimal footprint.

Each sensor is shipped with NIST- or PTB-traceable calibration data. The included data will match the calibration certification of the photodiode used to test the individual sensor. Thorlabs offers a recalibration service for these photodiode power sensors, which can be ordered below (see Item CAL-S130 for Si sensors and Item # CAL-S132 for Ge sensors).

Item #^a	S130VC	S130C	S132C^b
Sensor Image (Click the Image to Enlarge)
Aperture Size	Ø9.5 mm
Wavelength Range	200 - 1100 nm	400 - 1100 nm	700 - 1800 nm^c
Power Range (with filter)	500 pW - 0.5 mW^d (Up to 50 mW)^d	500 pW - 5 mW (Up to 500 mW)	5 nW - 5 mW (Up to 500 mW)
Detector Type	Si Photodiode (UV Extended)	Si Photodiode	Ge Photodiode
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution	100 pW^e		1 nW^f
Measurement Uncertainty^g	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (280 - 439 nm) ±7% (200 - 279 nm, 981 - 1100 nm)	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (400 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)	±5%
Responsivity^h (Click for Plot)	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data
Coating/Diffuser	Reflective ND (OD1.5)^d	Reflective ND (OD2)ⁱ	Absorptive ND (Schott NG9/KG3)^c
Housing Dimensions	150 mm x 19 mm x 10 mm; 5 mm Thickness on Sensor Side
Active Detector Area	9.7 mm x 9.7 mm
Cable Length	1.5 m
Mounting Thread	Separate 8-32 and M4 Taps, Posts Not Included
Adapters (Not Included)	SM1A29: Add SM1 Thread and Viewing Target to Aperture Fiber Adapters Compatible with SM1A29 Adapter: S120-FC, S120-APC, S120-SMA, S120-ST, S120-LC, and S120-SC FBSM: Integrate Sensor into FiberBench Setups
Compatible Consoles	PM400, PM100D, PM100USB, PM100A, PM101A, and PM320E

For complete specifications, please see the Specs tab.
The minimum measurable power for Germanium photodiodes can vary due to large fluctuations in the sensor's dark current, which is dependent on wavelength and temperature. This is particularly true at the edges of the sensor's operating range where the responsivity is lower.
For the S132C, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had a reflective ND diffuser (OD1), which would decrease the wavelength range from 700 nm to 1800 nm to 1200 nm to 1800 nm. For additional information, please contact technical support.
For the S130VC, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had an optical power range of 5 nW to 5 mW (50 nW to 50 mW with filter) and a reflective ND diffuser (OD1). For additional information, please contact technical support.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting, without filter.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting at 1550 nm, without filter.
Beam Diameter > 1 mm.
All sensor responsivities shown in these plots were calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals.
For the S130C, these specifications are valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx or higher. Older versions had an absorptive ND diffuser (Schott NG9). For additional information, please contact technical support.

SM1A29 is an adapter that can be attached by 2 set screws to any S130 series power sensor. This gives the possibility to mount fiber adapters, light shields, filters or any other SM1 threaded mechanics or optics.

Microscope Slide Photodiode Power Sensor

Item #^a	S170C
Sensor Image (Click Image to Enlarge)
Overall Dimensions	76.0 mm x 25.2 mm x 5.0 mm (2.99" x 0.99" x 0.20")
Active Detector Area	18 mm x 18 mm
Input Aperture	20 mm x 20 mm
Wavelength Range	350 - 1100 nm
Optical Power Working Range	10 nW - 150 mW
Detector Type	Silicon Photodiode
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution^b	1 nW
Calibration Uncertainty^c	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (350 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)
Responsivity^d (Click for Plot)	Raw Data
Neutral Density Filter	Reflective (OD 1.5)
Cable Length	1.5 m
Mounting Thread	Universal 8-32 / M4 Tap, Post Not Included
Compatible Consoles	PM400, PM100D, PM100USB, PM100A, PM101A, and PM320E

For complete specifications, please see the Specs tab.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting.
Beam diameter > 1 mm.
The sensor responsivity shown in this plot was calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals.

Wavelength Range: 350 nm to 1100 nm
Sensitive to Optical Powers from 10 nW to 150 mW
Designed to Measure Optical Power at the Sample Plane of a Microscope
Silicon Photodiode with Large 18 mm x 18 mm Active Area
Sensor Housing Dimensions: 76.0 mm x 25.2 x 5.0 mm
Index Matching Gel Utilized in Design to Prevent Internal Reflections
Information Stored in Connector
- Sensor Data
- NIST- and PTB-Traceable Calibration Data
Post Mountable via 8-32 (M4) Tap

The S170C Microscope Slide Power Sensor Head is a silicon photodiode sensor designed to measure the power at the sample in microscopy setups. The silicon photodiode can detect wavelengths between 350 nm and 1100 nm at optical powers between 10 nW and 150 mW. The sensor head's 76.0 mm x 25.2 mm footprint matches that of a standard microscope slide and is compatible with most standard upright and inverted microscopes.

The photodiode has an 18 mm x 18 mm active area and is contained in a sealed housing behind a neutral density (ND) filter with OD 1.5. A 20 mm x 20 mm indentation around the surface of the ND filter is sized to accept standard microscope cover slips. An immersion medium (water, glycerol, oil) may be placed in this well directly over the ND filter, or a cover slip may be inserted first to simplify clean up. The gap between the photodiode and the neutral density filter has been filled with an index matching gel in order to prevent internal reflections from causing significant measurement errors when using high NA objectives with oil or water.

The bottom of the sensor housing features a laser-engraved grid to aid in aligning and focusing the beam. In standard microscopes, this grid can be used for beam alignment before flipping the sensor head to face the objective for power measurements. In inverted microscopes, turn on the transmitted illuminator to align the grid on the detector housing with the beam, thereby centering the sensor in front of the objective. Alternatively, the diffusive surface of the ND filter can be used as a focusing plane.

Each sensor is shipped with NIST- or PTB-traceable calibration data. The included data will match the calibration certification of the photodiode used to test the individual sensor. Sensor specifications and the included NIST- or PTB-traceable calibration data are stored in non-volatile memory in the sensor connector and can be read out by the latest generation of Thorlabs power meters. We recommend yearly recalibration to ensure accuracy and performance. Calibration may be ordered using the CAL1 recalibration service available below. Please contact technical support for more information.

The complete set of specifications are presented on the Specs tab above. Thorlabs also offers a Microscope Slide Sensor Head with a thermal sensor; the full presentation can be found here.

Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensors

Click to Enlarge
S142C and S140-BFA Bare Fiber Adapter (Sold Separately)

Click to Enlarge
S142C with the S120-FC Fiber Adapter (Included)

For Measurements Independent of Beam Shape and Entrance Angle
Integrating Sphere Design Acts as a Diffuser with Minimal Power Loss
Ø5 mm, Ø7 mm, or Ø12 mm Input Sensor Aperture
Removable S120-FC Fiber Adapter (FC/PC and FC/APC) Included
Compatible Fiber Adapters for Terminated and Bare Fiber (See Table Below)

These Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensors are the ideal choice for power measurements independent of beam uniformity, divergence angle, beam shape, or entrance angle, making them excellent for use with fiber sources and off-axis free space sources.

Our integrating spheres are designed for wavelength ranges from the visible through the NIR. Sensor heads for use between 350 and 2500 nm use a single Ø1" or Ø2" sphere made from Zenith^® PTFE and feature a black housing to minimize reflected light around the entrance aperture. These sensors use either a silicon photodiode for detection in the 350 - 1100 nm range or an InGaAs photodiode for detection in the 800 - 1700 nm, 900 - 1650 nm, or 1200 - 2500 nm wavelength range.

The S180C integrating sphere for 2.9 - 5.5 µm uses two connected, gold-plated Ø20 mm spheres, with an entrance port in the first sphere and a port for the MCT (HgCdTe) detector located in the second sphere. Compared to single-sphere designs, the two-sphere configuration improves device sensitivity by minimizing the internal sphere surface area while still effectively shielding the detector from direct illumination. This design reduces the effect of input angle, divergence, and beam shape on the measurement result by effectively shielding the photodiode without the use of a baffle or other shielding mechanism.

The integrating spheres below feature large Ø5 mm, Ø7 mm, or Ø12 mm apertures, externally SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) front connections, enhanced shielding against electromagnetic interference, and an over-temperature alert sensor. Because of the large active detector areas of these sensors, the included S120-FC fiber adapter can be used with FC/PC- or FC/APC-terminated fiber. The externally SM1-threaded adapter can be removed using a size 1 screwdriver to place components closer to the window.

Each sensor is shipped with NIST- or PTB-traceable calibration data. The included data will match the calibration certification of the photodiode used to test the individual sensor. NIST- or PTB-traceable data is stored in the sensor connector. Thorlabs offers a recalibration service for these photodiode power sensors, which can be ordered below (see Item # CAL1 for Si sensors, Item # CAL2 for InGaAs sensors, and Item # CAL4 for InGaAs or MCT sensors).

Item #^a	S140C	S142C	S144C	S145C	S146C	S148C	S180C
Sensor Image (Click the Image to Enlarge)
Aperture Size	Ø5 mm	Ø12 mm	Ø5 mm	Ø12 mm		Ø5 mm	Ø7 mm
Wavelength Range	350 - 1100 nm		800 - 1700 nm		900 - 1650 nm	1200 - 2500 nm	2.9 µm - 5.5 µm
Power Range	1 µW - 500 mW	1 µW - 5 W	1 µW - 500 mW	1 µW - 3 W	10 µW - 20 W	1 µW - 1 W	1 µW - 3 W
Detector Type	Si Photodiode		InGaAs Photodiode				MCT (HgCdTe) Photodiode
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution^b	1 nW				10 nW	1 nW	10 nW
Measurement Uncertainty^c	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (350 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)		±5%
Responsivity^d (Click for Plot)	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data
Integrating Sphere Material (Size)	Zenith^® PTFE (Ø1")	Zenith^® PTFE (Ø2")	Zenith^® PTFE (Ø1")	Zenith^® PTFE (Ø2")		Zenith^® PTFE (Ø1")	Gold Plating (Two Ø20 mm Spheres)
Head Temperature Measurement	NTC Thermistor 4.7 kΩ
Housing Dimensions	Ø45 mm x 30.5 mm	70 mm x 74 mm x 70 mm	Ø45 mm x 30.5 mm	70 mm x 74 mm x 70 mm		Ø45 mm x 30.5 mm	59.0 mm x 50.0 mm x 28.5 mm
Active Detector Area	3.6 mm x 3.6 mm			Ø2 mm	Ø1 mm	Ø1 mm	1 mm x 1 mm
Cable Length	1.5 m
Mounting Thread	Separate 8-32 and M4 Taps, Posts Not Included						Universal 8-32 / M4 Tap, Post Not Included
Aperture Thread	Included Adapter with SM1 (1.035"-40) External Thread
Compatible Fiber Adapters	S120-FC (Included) S120-APC, S120-SMA, S120-ST, S120-SC, S120-LC, and S140-BFA (Not Included)
Compatible Consoles	PM400, PM100D, PM100USB, PM100A, PM101A, and PM320E

For complete specifications, please see the Specs tab.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting.
Beam diameter > 1 mm
All sensor responsivities shown in these plots were calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals except for the S180C. See the S180C responsivity plot to see the NIST-traceable reference points.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey

+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available

S140C Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensor, Si, 350 - 1100 nm, 500 mW

$745.58

5-8 Days

S142C Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensor, Si, 350 - 1100 nm, 5 W

$1,034.50

Today

S144C Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensor, InGaAs, 800 - 1700 nm, 500 mW

$875.44

Today

S145C Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensor, InGaAs, 800 - 1700 nm, 3 W

$1,074.55

Today

S146C Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensor, InGaAs, 900 - 1650 nm, 20 W

$1,074.55

Today

S148C Customer Inspired! Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensor, InGaAs, 1200 - 2500 nm, 1 W

$899.24

Today

S180C Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensor, MCT (HgCdTe), 2.9 - 5.5 µm, 3 W

$3,909.69

5-8 Days

Bare Fiber Adapter

Zoom

Compatible with S140C Series Power Sensors
Power Measurements of Bare Fiber Outputs
Easy Loading and Positioning of Optical Fiber in V-Groove
Supports Fiber with Buffer Diameters from 250 to 450 µm
Tight Holding without Fiber Damage by Magnetic Clip
Attached by Two M2.5 x 4 mm Cap Screws

Fiber Photodiode Power Sensors

Click to Enlarge
PM100D with S150C Sensor and FC Cable

For Fiber-Based Optical Power Measurements
Compact Sensor Integrated into the Connector
Integrated Design for use in the Field and Lab
Includes FC/PC Adapter
- S150C and S151C Sensors also Include SMA Adapter
- Compatible FC/APC, LC/PC, SC/PC, and ST Fiber Adapters Also Available (See Table Below)
Compatible with the PM100D, PM100USB, PM100A, and PM320E Consoles

The S15xC Compact Fiber Photodiode Power Sensor is designed to take power measurements from a wide variety of fiber-coupled sources. The compact sensor, integrated into the power meter connector, features a unique integrated design housing the photodiode sensor, fiber coupling, and NIST- or PTB-traceable data. The fiber adapter included with each sensor can be interchanged easily to accomodate a variety of fiber connectors (see table below).

Each sensor is shipped with NIST- or PTB-traceable calibration data. The included data will match the calibration certification of the photodiode used to test the individual sensor. NIST- or PTB-traceable data is stored in the sensor connector. Thorlabs offers a recalibration service for these photodiode power sensors, which can be ordered below (see Item # CAL1 for Si sensors and Item # CAL2 for InGaAs sensors).

Item #^a	S150C	S151C	S154C	S155C
Sensor Image (Click the Image to Enlarge)
Wavelength Range	350 - 1100 nm	400 - 1100 nm	800 - 1700 nm
Power Range	100 pW to 5 mW (-70 dBm to +7 dBm)	1 nW to 20 mW (-60 dBm to +13 dBm)	100 pW to 3 mW (-70 dBm to +5 dBm)	1 nW to 20 mW (-60 dBm to +13 dBm)
Detector Type	Si Photodiode		InGaAs Photodiode
Linearity	±0.5%
Resolution^b	10 pW (-80 dBm)	100 pW (-70 dBm)	10 pW (-80 dBm)	100 pW (-70 dBm)
Measurement Uncertainty^c	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (350 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)	±3% (440 - 980 nm) ±5% (400 - 439 nm) ±7% (981 - 1100 nm)	±5%
Responsivity^d (Click for Details)	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data	Raw Data
Coating/Diffuser	N/A	Absorptive ND (Schott NG3)	N/A
Head Temperature Measurement^e	NTC Thermistor 3 kΩ
Aperture Thread	External SM05 (0.535"-40)
Fiber Adapters^f	Included (FC and SMA): PM20-FC and PM20-SMA; Optional: PM20-APC, PM20-LC, PM20-SC, and PM20-ST		Included (FC): PM20-FC; Optional: PM20-APC, PM20-LC, PM20-SC, PM20-ST, and PM20-SMA
Compatible Consoles	PM400, PM100D, PM100USB, PM100A, PM101A, and PM320E

For complete specifications, please see the Specs tab.
Measured with PM100D console in low bandwidth setting.
For a beam diameter > 1 mm incident on the active area of the detector (i.e. at the detector surface after the light has exited the fiber and passed through any internal optics).
All sensor responsivities shown in these plots were calibrated to a NIST-traceable source with measurements taken in 5 nm intervals.
This specification is valid for devices with serial numbers 1203xxx and higher. For older versions, please contact technical support.
Because of the large active detector area of these sensors, the included PM20-FC fiber adapter can be used with both FC/PC- and FC/APC-terminated fiber.

Internally SM05-Threaded Fiber Adapters

These internally SM05-threaded (0.535"-40) adapters mate terminated fiber to our free-space detectors and power sensors, including, but not limited to:

S150C Series Fiber Power Meter Sensors
PM160 Wireless Handheld Power Meter
PM20 Fiber Power Meters

Please contact Tech Support if you are unsure if the adapter is mechanically compatible.

Part Number	PM20-FC	PM20-APC2^a	PM20-APC^a	PM20-SMA	PM20-ST	PM20-SC	PM20-LC
Adapter Image (Click the Image to Enlarge)
Connector Type	FC/PC^b, 2.2 mm Wide Key	FC/APC, 2.0 mm Narrow Key	FC/APC, 2.2 mm Wide Key	SMA	ST/PC	SC/PC^c	LC/PC
Thread	Internal SM05 (0.535"-40)

The PM20-APC and PM20-APC2 are designed with a 4° mechanical angle to compensate for the refraction angle of the output beam.
In certain angle-independent applications, this adapter may also be used with FC/APC connectors.
In certain angle-independent applications, this adapter may also be used with SC/APC connectors.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey

+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available

PM20-FC FC/PC Fiber Adapter Cap with Internal SM05 (0.535"-40) Threads, Wide Key (2.2 mm)

$34.36

Today

PM20-APC2 NEW!FC/APC Fiber Adapter Cap with Internal SM05 (0.535"-40) Threads, Narrow Key (2.0 mm)

$33.95

Today

PM20-APC Customer Inspired! FC/APC Fiber Adapter Cap with Internal SM05 (0.535"-40) Threads, Wide Key (2.2 mm)

$33.95

Today

PM20-SMA SMA Fiber Adapter Cap with Internal SM05 (0.535"-40) Threads

$34.36

Today

PM20-ST ST/PC Fiber Adapter Cap with Internal SM05 (0.535"-40) Threads

$47.62

Today

PM20-SC SC/PC Fiber Adapter Cap with Internal SM05 (0.535"-40) Threads

$47.62

Today

PM20-LC Customer Inspired! LC/PC Fiber Adapter Cap with Internal SM05 (0.535"-40) Threads

$47.62

Today

Internally SM1-Threaded Fiber Adapters

These internally SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) adapters mate terminated fiber to any of our externally SM1-threaded components, including our photodiode power sensors, our thermal power sensors, and our photodetectors.

The APC adapters have two dimples in the front surface that allow them to be tightened with the SPW909 or SPW801 spanner wrench. The dimples do not go all the way through the disk so that the adapter can be used in light-tight applications when paired with SM1 lens tubes.

Please contact Tech Support if you are unsure if the adapter is mechanically compatible.

Item #	S120-FC	S120-APC2^a	S120-APC^a	S120-SMA	S120-ST	S120-SC	S120-LC
Adapter Image (Click the Image to Enlarge)
Fiber Connector Type	FC/PC^b, 2.2 mm Wide Key	FC/APC, 2.0 mm Narrow Key	FC/APC 2.2 mm Wide Key	SMA	ST/PC	SC/PC^c	LC/PC
Thread	Internal SM1 (1.035"-40)

The S120-APC and S120-APC2 are designed with a 4° mechanical angle to compensate for the refraction angle of the output beam.
In certain angle-independent applications, this adapter may also be used with FC/APC connectors.
In certain angle-independent applications, this adapter may also be used with SC/APC connectors.

Externally SM1-Threaded Slim Photodiode Adapter

Zoom

Click to Enlarge
SM1 Lens Tube Mounted on an S132C Photodiode Sensor Using an SM1A29 Adapter

Compatible with Thorlabs Slim Photodiode Power Sensors
Enables Integration with SM1-Threaded Components
Adds VIS/IR Target Around Sensor

The SM1A29 adapter can be attached to our slim photodiode sensors using two setscrews, which are compatible with 0.035" (0.9 mm) hex keys. This allows for mounting SM1-threaded fiber adapters, filters, or other SM1-threaded mechanics or optics to our slim photodiode sensors. The target around the aperture uses the same material as our VRC2 Laser Viewing Card and is sensitive to light between the wavelength ranges of 400 - 645 nm and 800 - 1700 nm.

FiberBench Slim Photodiode Mount

Zoom

Click for Details

View Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
Universal Product List
S130C	1	Slim Photodiode Power Sensor, Si, 400 - 1100 nm, 500 mW
FB-51	1	Single-Axis FiberBench, L = 51 mm, 5 Positions
FBSM	1	FiberBench Mount for Slim Photodiode Sensors
HCA3-SM1	1	FiberBench Wall Plate, FiberPort Compatible, Internally SM1-Threaded
PAF-X-5-B	1	FiberPort, FC/PC & FC/APC, f=4.6 mm, 600 - 1050 nm, Ø1.00 mm Waist
FBR-LPVIS	1	Rotating Linear Polarizer Module, 500 - 720 nm, Ø2.5 mm CA

S130C Photodiode Sensor Mounted in FiberBench System Using FBSM Adapter

Compatible with Thorlabs Slim Photodiode Power Sensors
Enables Integration with Single- and Multi-Axis FiberBench Systems
Adds VIS/IR Target Around Sensor

The FBSM FiberBench Mount enables stable mounting of our slim photodiode sensors into our FiberBench systems. A side-located setscrew with a 0.050" (1.3 mm) hex can be used to lock the sensor in place. The mount has dowel pins for compatibility with FiberBenches and an optical axis height of 0.56" (14.2 mm) to match other FiberBench components. The target around the aperture uses the same material as our VRC2 Laser Viewing Card and is sensitive to light between the wavelength ranges of 400 - 645 nm and 800 - 1700 nm.

Recalibration Service for Photodiode Power Sensors

Calibration Service Item #	Compatible Sensors
CAL1	S120VC, S120C, S121C, S170C, S140C, S142C, S150C, S151C
CAL2	S122C, S144C, S145C, S146C, S154C, S155C
CAL-S130	S130VC, S130C
CAL-S132	S132C
CAL4	S148C, S180C

Thorlabs offers calibration services for our photodiode optical power sensors and consoles. To ensure accurate measurements, we recommend recalibrating the sensors annually. Recalibration of the console is included with the recalibration of a sensor at no additional cost. If you wish to recalibrate only your power meter console, please contact Tech Support for details.

Refer to the table to the right for the appropriate calibration service Item # that corresponds to your power meter sensor. Once the appropriate Item # is selected, enter the Part # and Serial # of the sensor that requires recalibration prior to selecting Add to Cart.

Please Note: To ensure your item being returned for calibration is routed appropriately once it arrives at our facility, please do not ship it prior to being provided an RMA Number and return instructions by a member of our team.

View All »Matching Part Numbers

Photodiode Power Sensors (C-Series)

Features

Standard Photodiode Sensors: S120C Series

Slim Profile Photodiode Sensors: S130C Series

Microscope Slide Photodiode Sensor

Integrating Sphere Photodiode Sensors

Fiber-Coupled Photodiode Sensors: S150C Series

Sensor Connectors

D-Type Male

Pulsed Laser Emission: Power and Energy Calculations

Consoles

Interfaces

Power and Energy Sensor Selection Guide

Sensor Options(Arranged by Wavelength Range)

Sensor Options(Arranged by Power Range)

Standard Photodiode Power Sensors

Slim Photodiode Power Sensors

Microscope Slide Photodiode Power Sensor

Integrating Sphere Photodiode Power Sensors

Bare Fiber Adapter

Fiber Photodiode Power Sensors

Internally SM05-Threaded Fiber Adapters

Internally SM1-Threaded Fiber Adapters

Externally SM1-Threaded Slim Photodiode Adapter

FiberBench Slim Photodiode Mount

Recalibration Service for Photodiode Power Sensors

Sensor Options
(Arranged by Wavelength Range)

Sensor Options
(Arranged by Power Range)