Superluminescent Diodes (SLDs)

Recommended Controller / Mount Options
Item #	Mount	Diode Driver	TEC Controller
CLD1015
LM14S2		-	-
ITC4000 Series	Use with LM14S2 Mount
LDC200 Series	Use with LM14S2 Mount		-
TED200C	Use with LM14S2 Mount	-

Features

• Center Wavelengths from 830 nm to 1550 nm
• Typical 3 dB Bandwidths Ranging from 20 to 110 nm
• 14-Pin Butterfly Package
• Pigtailed with at Least 1 m of SM or PM Fiber
• 2.0 mm Narrow Key FC/APC Connector
• Integrated TEC and Thermistor

Superluminescent Diodes (SLDs) are excellent high-power, broadband light sources that are ideal for use in applications such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging Systems and Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOG). The butterfly-packaged SLDs offered here are indium phosphide (InP) devices manufactured by Thorlabs Quantum Electronics (TQE).

Each device is built into a 14-pin butterfly package with an integrated thermoelectric cooler (TEC) and thermistor to ensure output stability. The output is coupled into an SM or PM fiber terminated with a 2.0 mm narrow key FC/APC connector. Raw test data for each SLD is also available upon request; please contact Tech Support with inquiries.

The SLDs featured on this page have either a near-gaussian or flat-top optical spectrum. The calculation for the center wavelength differs with these two spectral shapes. Please see the Specs tab for center wavelength calculations.

Thorlabs is able to provide low-ripple SLDs with custom wavelengths or higher power diodes. Please note that the engineering design and wafer manufacturing costs involved make the purchase of low quantities very costly. For a quote on custom SLDs, please contact Tech Support.

A selection of the SLDs sold here are also available as benchtop sources. For more information, see the Selection Guide tab.

Due to the nature of producing superluminescent diodes with ultra wide bandwidth, some of the SLDs sold below have spectral shapes that are near gaussian, while others have a shape with a flattened top. This difference in spectral shape demands two different methods of defining center wavelength in order to provide an accurate description of the diode.

Near-Guassian Center Wavelength Definition
The center wavelength for devices with a near-gaussian spectral shape is defined by an average weighted by the relative amplitude and may not correspond to peak power or the FWHM center wavelength due to the variability of the spectrum shape. For a given Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA) trace:

Flat-Top Center Wavelength Definition
The center wavelength for devices with a flat-top spectral shape is defined by the midpoint between the two wavelengths located at 3 dB below the maximum intensity point on the spectrum. For a given OSA trace:

The ASE power is the output from the fiber pigtail.

1550 nm Superluminescent Diodes

• These Operating Specifications are a consistent set of values which will yield the specified performance. Please note that exceeding the Absolute Maximum Ratings in the table may cause device failure.
• Center wavelength is defined based on the spectral shape of each device; see the definitions above.
• At Operating Current
• Corresponds to the output of the fiber pigtail.
• Measurement Resolution = 0.1 nm
• The connector key is aligned to the slow axis of the PM fiber.

Superluminescent Diode Performance:

Item #	Center Wavelengtha	Output Power	Bandwidth (3 dB)	Optical Spectrum	LIV Curvesb	Equivalent Benchtop Source
SLD830S-A10W	830 nm	10 mW (Min)	60 nm			N/A
SLD830S-A10	830 nm	13 mW	20 nm			N/A
SLD830S-A20	830 nm	22 mW	20 nm			N/A
SLD880S-A7	880 nm	7 mW	40 nm			N/A
SLD880S-A25	880 nm	25 mW	40 nm			N/A
SLD1050S	1050 nm	8 mW	50 nm			N/A
SLD1050P	1050 nm	8 mW	50 nm			N/A
SLD1050S-A60	1050 nm	60 mW	70 nm			N/A
SLD1050P-A60	1050 nm	60 mW	70 nm			N/A
SLD1021S	1310 nm	12.5 mW	85 nm			S5FC1021S
SLD1018S	1310 nm	30 mW	45 nm			S5FC1018S S5FC1018P
SLD1018P	1310 nm	30 mW	45 nm			S5FC1018S S5FC1018P
SLD1325	1325 nm	10 mW (Min)	100 nm (Min)			N/A
SLD1550S-A1	1550 nm	1.0 mW	110 nm			N/A
SLD1550P-A1	1550 nm	1.0 mW	110 nm			N/A
SLD1550S-A2	1550 nm	2.5 mW	90 nm			S5FC1550S-A2 S5FC1550P-A2
SLD1550P-A2	1550 nm	2.5 mW	90 nm			S5FC1550S-A2 S5FC1550P-A2
SLD1005S	1550 nm	22 mW	50 nm			S5FC1005S
SLD1550S-A40	1550 nm	40 mW	33 nm			N/A
SLD1550P-A40	1550 nm	40 mW	33 nm			N/A

• The center wavelength definition for these devices depends on spectral shape. See the Specs tab above.
• Basic superluminescent diode characteristics can be measured by increasing current (I) while measuring the device voltage (V) and light output (L). The resulting data is usually referred to as an LIV curve.